High resistance against clindamycin, metronidazole and amoxicillin in Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans isolates of periodontal disease

Objectives: To test the antimicrobial sensitivity of two periodontal pathogens to a panel of five orally administrable antibiotics in periodontal disease. Study design: A total of 69 isolates of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were processed using culture and biochemical tests. Selected colonies of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis were used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of clindamycin, metronidazole, amoxicillin, moxifloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Results: Susceptibility testing revealed a sensitivity of 100% of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis to moxifloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid but moderate susceptibilities were found for the rest of antibiotics agents evaluated. Conclusions: The widespread use of antibiotics is reflected in the level of resistance of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis in patients with periodontal infections. This suggests that antibiotic susceptibility testing is necessary to determine efficacy of antimicrobial agents. Clinical studies with antibiotics should take these differences into account

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast overexpresses MUC4 and is associated with poor outcome to adjuvant trastuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast (IMPC) is a histological tumor variant that occurs with low frequency characterized by an inside-out formation of tumor clusters with a pseudopapillary arrangement. IMPC is an aggressive tumor with poor clinical outcome. In addition, this histological subtype usually expresses human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) which also correlates with a more aggressive tumor. In this work we studied the clinical significance of IMPC in HER2-positive breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab. We also analyzed mucin 4 (MUC4) expression as a novel biomarker to identify IMPC.Fil: Mercogliano, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Inurrigarro, Gloria. Sanatorio Mater Dei Hermanas de María de Schoenstatt; ArgentinaFil: de Martino, Mara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Venturutti, Leandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Rivas, Martin Alfredo. Cornell University; Estados UnidosFil: Cordo Russo, Rosalia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Proietti Anastasi, Cecilia Jazmín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Elmer Andres. Universidad Católica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Frahm, Isabel. Sanatorio Mater Dei Hermanas de María de Schoenstatt; ArgentinaFil: Barchuk, Sabrina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos ; ArgentinaFil: Allemand, Daniel H.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos ; ArgentinaFil: Figurelli, Silvina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos ; ArgentinaFil: Gil Deza, Ernesto. Instituto Oncológico Henry Moore; ArgentinaFil: Ares, Sandra. Instituto Oncológico Henry Moore; ArgentinaFil: Gercovich, Felipe G.. Instituto Oncológico Henry Moore; ArgentinaFil: Cortese, Eduardo. Ministerio de Defensa. Fuerza Aérea Argentina. Hospital Aeronáutico Central ; ArgentinaFil: Amasino, Matías. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Guzmán, Pablo. Universidad de La Frontera; ChileFil: Roa, Juan C.. Universidad de La Frontera; ChileFil: Elizalde, Patricia Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Schillaci, Roxana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentin

Comportamiento productivo de cuyes (Cavia porcellus) de engorde suplementados con tres niveles de butirato de sodio en la dieta

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with sodium butyrate (BS) on productive performance in fattening guinea pigs. Fifty 14-21 days old weaned male guinea pigs were randomly distributed in five treatments (0, 100, 200, 300 ppm of BS, 200 ppm of Zn-Bacitracin). Body weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion were evaluated 70 days after supplementation. No response patterns were detected due to BS or Zn-Bacitracin treatments. It is concluded that, under the experimental conditions, supplementation with BS did not improve the productive parameters evaluated.El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la suplementación de butirato de sodio (BS) en la dieta sobre el comportamiento productivo de cuyes de engorde. Cincuenta cuyes machos destetados, de 14 a 21 días de edad, fueron distribuidos al azar en cinco tratamientos (0, 100, 200, 300 ppm de BS, 200 ppm de Zn-Bacitracina). Se determinó la ganancia de peso, el consumo de alimento y la conversión alimenticia a los 70 días de la suplementación. No se detectaron patrones de respuesta por efecto del BS ni de Zn-Bacitracina. Se concluye que, bajo las condiciones experimentales, la suplementación con BS no mejoró los parámetros productivos evaluados

Caracterización inmunológica de un grupo familiar colombiano con infección por SARS-CoV-2

Introduction: Immunological markers have been described during COVID-19 and persist after recovery. These immune markers are associated with clinical features among SARSCoV-2 infected individuals. Nevertheless, studies reporting a comprehensive analysis of the immune changes occurring during SARS-CoV-2 infection are still limited.Objective: To evaluate the production of proinflammatory cytokines, the antibody response, and the phenotype and function of NK cells and T cells in a Colombian family cluster with SARS-CoV-2 infection.Materials and methods: Proinflammatory cytokines were evaluated by RT-PCR and ELISA. The frequency, phenotype, and function of NK cells (cocultures with K562 cells) and T-cells (stimulated with spike/RdRp peptides) were assessed by flow cytometry. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were determined using indirect immunofluorescence and plaque reduction neutralization assay.Results: During COVID-19, we observed a high proinflammatory-cytokine production and a reduced CD56bright-NK cell and cytotoxic response. Compared with healthy controls, infected individuals had a higher frequency of dysfunctional CD8+ T cells CD38+HLA-DR-. During the acute phase, CD8+ T cells stimulated with viral peptides exhibited a monofunctional response characterized by high IL-10 production. However, during recovery, we observed a bifunctional response characterized by the co-expression of CD107a and granzyme B or perforin.Conclusion: Although the proinflammatory response is a hallmark of SARS-CoV-2 infection, other phenotypic and functional alterations in NK cells and CD8+ T cells couldbe associated with the outcome of COVID-19. However, additional studies are required to understand these alterations and to guide future immunotherapy strategies.Introducción. Se han descrito diferentes marcadores inmunológicos durante la COVID-19, los cuales persisten incluso después de la convalecencia y se asocian con los estadios clínicos de la infección. Sin embargo, aún son pocos los estudios orientados al análisis exhaustivo de las alteraciones del sistema inmunológico en el curso de la infección.Objetivo. Evaluar la producción de citocinas proinflamatorias, la reacción de anticuerpos, y el fenotipo y la función de las células NK y los linfocitos T en una familia colombiana con infección por SARS-CoV-2.Materiales y métodos. Se evaluaron las citocinas proinflamatorias mediante RT-PCR y ELISA; la frecuencia, el fenotipo y la función de las células NK (en cocultivos con células K562) y linfocitos T CD8+ (estimulados con péptidos spike/RdRp) mediante citometría de flujo, y los anticuerpos anti-SARS-CoV-2, mediante inmunofluorescencia indirecta y prueba de neutralización por reducción de placa.Resultados. Durante la COVID-19 hubo una producción elevada de citocinas proinflamatorias, con disminución de las células NK CD56bright y reacción citotóxica. Comparados con los controles sanos, los individuos infectados presentaron con gran frecuencia linfocitos T CD8+ disfuncionales CD38+HLA-DR-. Además, en los linfocitos T CD8+ estimulados con péptidos virales, predominó una reacción monofuncional con gran producción de IL-10 durante la fase aguda y una reacción bifuncional caracterizada por la coexpresión de CD107a y granzima B o perforina durante la convalecencia.Conclusión. Aunque la reacción inflamatoria caracteriza la infección por SARS-CoV-2, hay otras alteraciones fenotípicas y funcionales en células NK y linfocitos T CD8+ que podrían asociarse con la progresión de la infección. Se requieren estudios adicionales para entender estas alteraciones y guiar futuras estrategias de inmunoterapia

High resting energy expenditure, less fat-free mass, and less muscle strength in HIV-infected children: a matched, cross-sectional study

Background and aimsMany improvements have been made in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in pediatric patients; however, challenges remain in terms of achieving normal growth, body composition, and metabolism during treatment, etc. Current nutritional recommendations are based on studies performed in adults, with limited data on the HIV-infected pediatric population. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the resting energy expenditure (REE) of asymptomatic HIV-infected pediatric patients with healthy counterparts and to compare body composition, dietary intake, and physical activity between the two groups.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of asymptomatic HIV-infected children who were receiving antiretroviral therapy; the infected group was compared with the uninfected group, matched by age (± 6 months), sex, and body mass index (± 0.5 z-score). Participants were recruited between 2021 and 2022, as outpatients. In both groups, REE was determined by indirect calorimetry and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis and hand strength, measured using a hydraulic hand dynamometer.ResultsSeventy-eight participants were enrolled, where n = 39 HIV-infected children and n = 39 controls, with a mean age of 11.6 ± 3.4 years old. REE was significantly higher in the HIV group (1254.4 ± 334.7 kcal/day vs. 1124.7 ± 321 kcal/day, p = 0.013) than in the control group. Fat-free mass (FFM) was lower in the HIV group (28.2 ± 10.5 kg vs. 32 ± 11.2 kg, p = 0.001); this trend continued when the index skeletal muscle was evaluated (7.2 ± 1.2 vs. 7.6 ± 1.5, p = 0.04). The strength of the dominant hand was also lower in the HIV group (12 (8–18) kg vs. 20 (10.5–26) kg, p < 0.0001).ConclusionsChildren with asymptomatic HIV infection have higher REE than their uninfected peers. They also present decreased FFM, skeletal muscle mass index, and muscle strength. These parameters should be considered during nutritional assessment in this population to have a favorable impact on nutritional status and growth

Integrating Curriculum-Based Dynamic Assessment in Computerized Adaptive Testing: Development and Predictive Validity of the EDPL-BAI Battery on Reading Competence

In recent decades there have been significant changes in the conceptualization of reading as well as in the perception of how this activity should be assessed. Interest in the analysis of reading processes has led to the emergence of new explanatory models based primarily on the contributions of cognitive psychology. In parallel, there have been notable advances in measurement procedures, especially in models based on Item Response Theory (IRT), as well as in the capacity and performance of specific software programs that allow data to be managed and analyzed. These changes have contributed significantly to the rise of testing procedures such as computerized adaptive tests (CATs), whose fundamental characteristic is that the sequence of items presented in the tests is adapted to the level of competence that the subject manifests. Likewise, the incorporation of elements of dynamic assessment (DA) as the prompts are gradually offered allows for obtaining information about the type and degree of support required to optimize the subject¿s performance. In this sense, the confluence of contributions from DA and CATs offers a new possibility for approaching the assessment of learning processes. In this article, we present a longitudinal research developed in two phases, through which a computerized dynamic adaptive assessment battery of reading processes (EDPL-BAI) was configured. The research frame involved 1,831 students (46% girls) from 13 public schools in three regions of Chile. The purpose of this study was to analyze the differential contribution on reading competence of dynamic scores obtained in a subsample composed of 324 (47% girls) students from third to sixth grade after the implementation of a set of adaptive dynamic tests of morpho-syntactic processes. The results achieved in the structural equation modeling indicate a good global fit. Individual relationships show a significant contribution of calibrated score that Frontiers in Psychology | www.frontiersin.org 1 August 2018 | Volume 9 | Article 1492 fpsyg-09-01492 August 25, 2018 Time: 10:59 # 2 Navarro et al. Curriculum-Based Dynamic Computerized-Adaptive Assessment reflects estimated knowledge level on reading competence, as well as dynamic scores based on the assigned value of graduated prompts required by the students. These results showed significant predictive values on reading competence and incremental validity in relation to predictions made by static criterion tests

Plan Nacional de Educación Sexual de la República de Colombia

El gobierno a través de la Consejería para la Juventud, la Mujer y la Familia, busca formular y adaptar a la Política de Desarrollo Social vigente, lineamientos que incorporen el crecimiento integral del ser humano, concebido como agente de cambio social, formado e influido por múltiples aspectos dentro de los cuales la sexualidad juega un papel determinante. La expresión de la sexualidad está estrechamente vinculada al entorno socio-cultural de los seres humanos, requiere aprendizaje y orientación para su desarrollo. La comprensión y aceptación que como ser sexual adquiere la persona, genera efectos directamente relacionados con su calidad de vida individual, de pareja, familiar y comunitaria, lo cual convierte la sexualidad en objeto de políticas nacionales. El desarrollo de tal política no pretende hacer generalizaciones; sería errado hacer referencia a la "Sexualidad de los Colombianos/as", se pueden establecer tendencias o caracterizaciones, ubicar problemáticas comunes y específicas de las distintas poblaciones objeto de interés, reconociendo las diferencias regionales, étnicas, religiosas, etarias, de género y de clase, que matizan y le dan un carácter relativo a la sexualidad. Estas políticas tienen un piso fundamental que es la Nueva Constitución Colombiana, la cual estipula en varios de sus artículos derechos y deberes directamente relacionados con una concepción amplia de la sexualidad. Se refiere a los derechos de todas las personas a un libre desarrollo de su personalidad; a la prohibición de la esclavitud y la servidumbre; a la igualdad de derechos y deberes de la pareja; al derecho de la pareja a la libre decisión sobre el número de sus hijos e hijas; a la igualdad de oportunidades para el hombre y la mujer; a la protección de la mujer frente a cualquier clase de discriminación en el período de gestación y postparto; a los derechos de los infantes a un desarrollo armónico e integral; a los derechos de los y las adolescentes a una formación integral; y a los derechos de las personas a los servicios de promoción, protección y recuperación de la salud. Con esta concepción de política y sexualidad y con el marco constitucional el Programa Presidencial para la Juventud, la Mujer y la Familia, bajo la orientación permanente de la Primera Dama de la Nación y en Coordinación con el Ministerio de Salud, el Ministerio de Educación, el Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar y con el apoyo técnico de la Fundación para el desarrollo Humano y Social CRESALC Colombia, propone un Plan Nacional de Educación Sexual, cuyo objetivo principal es el de promover en el individuo, la familia y la sociedad, la formación de actitudes y valores que propendan por: la valoración de la sexualidad, la igualdad social de los géneros, la autonomía, la responsabilidad, la convivencia armónica, la solidaridad y la salud sexual, a través del desarrollo de los diferentes componentes del Plan: capacitación y formación, investigación, institucionalización, comunicación, y servicios, y las estrategias de: planeación, intersectorialidad, coordinación y autonomía, descentralización y participación

Variability in dengue titer estimates from plaque reduction neutralization tests poses a challenge to epidemiological studies and vaccine development.

BACKGROUND: Accurate determination of neutralization antibody titers supports epidemiological studies of dengue virus transmission and vaccine trials. Neutralization titers measured using the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) are believed to provide a key measure of immunity to dengue viruses, however, the assay's variability is poorly understood, making it difficult to interpret the significance of any assay reading. In addition there is limited standardization of the neutralization evaluation point or statistical model used to estimate titers across laboratories, with little understanding of the optimum approach. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We used repeated assays on the same two pools of serum using five different viruses (2,319 assays) to characterize the variability in the technique under identical experimental conditions. We also assessed the performance of multiple statistical models to interpolate continuous values of neutralization titer from discrete measurements from serial dilutions. We found that the variance in plaque reductions for individual dilutions was 0.016, equivalent to a 95% confidence interval of 0.45-0.95 for an observed plaque reduction of 0.7. We identified PRNT75 as the optimum evaluation point with a variance of 0.025 (log10 scale), indicating a titer reading of 1∶500 had 95% confidence intervals of 1∶240-1∶1000 (2.70±0.31 on a log10 scale). The choice of statistical model was not important for the calculation of relative titers, however, cloglog regression out-performed alternatives where absolute titers are of interest. Finally, we estimated that only 0.7% of assays would falsely detect a four-fold difference in titers between acute and convalescent sera where no true difference exists. CONCLUSIONS: Estimating and reporting assay uncertainty will aid the interpretation of individual titers. Laboratories should perform a small number of repeat assays to generate their own variability estimates. These could be used to calculate confidence intervals for all reported titers and allow benchmarking of assay performance

Clinical relevance of ErbB-2/HER2 nuclear expression in breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The biological relevance of nuclear ErbB-2/HER2 (NuclErbB-2) presence in breast tumors remains unexplored. In this study we assessed the clinical significance of ErbB-2 nuclear localization in primary invasive breast cancer. The reporting recommendations for tumor marker prognostic studies (REMARK) guidelines were used as reference.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Tissue microarrays from a cohort of 273 primary invasive breast carcinomas from women living in Chile, a Latin American country, were examined for membrane (MembErbB-2) and NuclErbB-2 expression by an immunofluorescence (IF) protocol we developed. ErbB-2 expression was also evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) with a series of antibodies. Correlation between NuclErbB-2 and MembErbB-2, and between NuclErbB-2 and clinicopathological characteristics of tumors was studied. The prognostic value of NuclErbB-2 in overall survival (OS) was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox model was used to explore NuclErbB-2 as independent prognostic factor for OS.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The IF protocol we developed showed significantly higher sensitivity for detection of NuclErbB-2 than IHC procedures, while its specificity and sensitivity to detect MembErbB-2 were comparable to those of IHC procedures. We found 33.6% NuclErbB-2 positivity, 14.2% MembErbB-2 overexpression by IF, and 13.0% MembErbB-2 prevalence by IHC in our cohort. We identified NuclErbB-2 positivity as a significant independent predictor of worse OS in patients with MembErbB-2 overexpression. NuclErbB-2 was also a biomarker of lower OS in tumors that overexpress MembErbB-2 and lack steroid hormone receptors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We revealed a novel role for NuclErbB-2 as an independent prognostic factor of poor clinical outcome in MembErbB-2-positive breast tumors. Our work indicates that patients presenting NuclErbB-2 may need new therapeutic strategies involving specific blockage of ErbB-2 nuclear migration.</p