Phenotypic Detection of Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase and Metallo-β-Lactamase Produced by Escherichia Coli on Automated Teller Machines within Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria

It is no longer a fallacy that environmental objects are grossly  contaminated by pathogenic microbes. ATMs especially which is used on daily basis by thousands of people have been reported to be potentialhabitat for these microbes. The worst-case scenario is the presence and ease of spread of Muti-Drug Resistant (MDR) and Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) producing pathogens via these machines as a result of their huge patronage. The prevalence and fast spread of these MDR and ESBL producing strains constitute an emerging public health concern. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of ESBL and MBL producing E. coli isolated on ATMs within Sokoto metropolis. A total of 194 isolates were obtained from the culture samples of 100 ATM swabs. The isolated E. coli were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility tests using the modified Kirby Baeur disc diffusion method on six (6) commercial antimicrobial discs (Oxoid, UK): Ceftazidime (CTZ, 30μg), Cefotaxime (CTX, 30μg), Gentamycin (CN, 10μg), Augumentin(AMC, 30μg), Ciprofloxacin(CIP, 5μg) and Imipenem(IPM, 10μg). The isolates were further screened for ESBL production and phenotypic confirmatory test.Confirmation of MBL production was also performed using antibiotic discs containing two Carbapenems (Imipenem IPM, 10μg and Meropenem MEM, 10μg). The result was interpreted using CLSI guideline 2015. Proteus spp (43%) were the most frequently isolated bacteria, followed by Shigella spp (31%) and E. coli 31(16%). Drug Resistant (MDR) ESBL producing E. coli of 93.3% and 4% MBL producer was recorded. It can be concluded that MDR and ESBL producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) are the most prevalent species isolated and that the species isolated are more sensitive to Gentamycin, Ciprofloxacin and Imipenem.Keywords: ESBL, MDR, ATM and Susceptibility

Severe forms of partial androgen insensitivity syndrome due to p.L830F novel mutation in androgen receptor gene in a Brazilian family

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The androgen insensitivity syndrome may cause developmental failure of normal male external genitalia in individuals with 46,XY karyotype. It results from the diminished or absent biological action of androgens, which is mediated by the androgen receptor in both embryo and secondary sex development. Mutations in the androgen receptor gene, located on the X chromosome, are responsible for the disease. Almost 70% of 46,XY affected individuals inherited mutations from their carrier mothers.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Molecular abnormalities in the androgen receptor gene in individuals of a Brazilian family with clinical features of severe forms of partial androgen insensitivity syndrome were evaluated. Seven members (five 46,XY females and two healthy mothers) of the family were included in the investigation. The coding exons and exon-intron junctions of androgen receptor gene were sequenced. Five 46,XY members of the family have been found to be hemizygous for the c.3015C>T nucleotide change in exon 7 of the androgen receptor gene, whereas the two 46,XX mothers were heterozygote carriers. This nucleotide substitution leads to the p.L830F mutation in the androgen receptor.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The novel p.L830F mutation is responsible for grades 5 and 6 of partial androgen insensitivity syndrome in two generations of a Brazilian family.</p

A new small-bodied azhdarchoid pterosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of England and its implications for pterosaur anatomy, diversity and phylogeny

BACKGROUND: Pterosaurs have been known from the Cretaceous sediments of the Isle of Wight (southern England, United Kingdom) since 1870. We describe the three-dimensional pelvic girdle and associated vertebrae of a small near-adult pterodactyloid from the Atherfield Clay Formation (lower Aptian, Lower Cretaceous). Despite acknowledged variation in the pterosaur pelvis, previous studies have not adequately sampled or incorporated pelvic characters into phylogenetic analyses. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The new specimen represents the new taxon Vectidraco daisymorrisae gen. et sp. nov., diagnosed by the presence of a concavity posterodorsal to the acetabulum and the form of its postacetabular process on the ilium. Several characters suggest that Vectidraco belongs to Azhdarchoidea. We constructed a pelvis-only phylogenetic analysis to test whether the pterosaur pelvis carries a useful phylogenetic signal. Resolution in recovered trees was poor, but they approximately matched trees recovered from analyses of total evidence. We also added Vectidraco and our pelvic characters to an existing total-evidence matrix for pterosaurs. Both analyses recovered Vectidraco within Azhdarchoidea. CONCLUSIONS/ SIGNIFICANCE: The Lower Cretaceous strata of western Europe have yielded members of several pterosaur lineages, but Aptian pterosaurs from western Europe are rare. With a pelvis length of 40 mm, the new animal would have had a total length of c. 350 mm, and a wingspan of c. 750 mm. Barremian and Aptian pterodactyloids from western Europe show that small-bodied azhdarchoids lived alongside ornithocheirids and istiodactylids. This assemblage is similar in terms of which lineages are represented to the coeval beds of Liaoning, China; however, the number of species and specimens present at Liaoning is much higher. While the general phylogenetic composition of western European and Chinese communities appear to have been approximately similar, the differences may be due to different palaeoenvironmental and depositional settings. The western Europe pterodactyloid record may therefore be artificially low in diversity due to preservational factors

The study of expanded tri-lobed flap in a rabbit model: possible flap model in ear reconstruction?

BACKGROUND: Local flaps are widely used in reconstructive surgery. Tri-lobed skin flap is a relatively new flap and there has been no experimental model of this flap. This flap can be used for repair of full thickness defects in the face, ears and alar region. Based on the size of ears in a rabbit, we designed a model of ear reconstruction using expanded tri-lobed flap. Local flaps are more advantageous in that they provide excellent color and texture matching up with those of the face, adequately restore ear contour, place scars in a favorable location and ideally accomplish these goals in a single stage with minimal donor site morbidity. METHODS: Eight adult New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups. 50 ml round tissue expander were implanted to four rabbits. After completion of the expansion, a superiorly based tri-lobed flap was elevated and a new ear was created from the superior dorsal skin of each rabbit. Scintigraphy with Technetium-99m pertecnetate was performed to evaluate flap viability. RESULTS: Subtotal flap necrosis was seen in all animals in non-expanded group. New ear in dimensions of the original ear was created in expanded group without complication. Perfusion and viability of the flaps were proved by Technetium-99m pertecnetate scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: According to our knowledge this study is the first to demonstrate animal model in tri-lobed flap. Also, our technique is the first application of the trilobed flap to the possible ear reconstruction. We speculated that this flap may be used mastoid based without hair, in human. Also, tri-lobed flap may be an alternative in reconstruction of cylindrical organs such as penis or finger

Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine and Artemether-Lumefantrine for Treating Uncomplicated Malaria in African Children: A Randomised, Non-Inferiority Trial

BACKGROUND: Artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) are currently the preferred option for treating uncomplicated malaria. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PQP) is a promising fixed-dose ACT with limited information on its safety and efficacy in African children. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The non-inferiority of DHA-PQP versus artemether-lumefantrine (AL) in children 6-59 months old with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria was tested in five African countries (Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda and Zambia). Patients were randomised (2:1) to receive either DHA-PQP or AL. Non-inferiority was assessed using a margin of -5% for the lower limit of the one-sided 97.5% confidence interval on the treatment difference (DHA-PQP vs. AL) of the day 28 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) corrected cure rate. Efficacy analysis was performed in several populations, and two of them are presented here: intention-to-treat (ITT) and enlarged per-protocol (ePP). 1553 children were randomised, 1039 receiving DHA-PQP and 514 AL. The PCR-corrected day 28 cure rate was 90.4% (ITT) and 94.7% (ePP) in the DHA-PQP group, and 90.0% (ITT) and 95.3% (ePP) in the AL group. The lower limits of the one-sided 97.5% CI of the difference between the two treatments were -2.80% and -2.96%, in the ITT and ePP populations, respectively. In the ITT population, the Kaplan-Meier estimate of the proportion of new infections up to Day 42 was 13.55% (95% CI: 11.35%-15.76%) for DHA-PQP vs 24.00% (95% CI: 20.11%-27.88%) for AL (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: DHA-PQP is as efficacious as AL in treating uncomplicated malaria in African children from different endemicity settings, and shows a comparable safety profile. The occurrence of new infections within the 42-day follow up was significantly lower in the DHA-PQP group, indicating a longer post-treatment prophylactic effect. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Controlled-trials.com ISRCTN16263443

NF-κB inhibition prevents acute shear stress-induced inflammation in the saphenous vein graft endothelium

The long saphenous vein (LSV) is commonly used as a conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting. However, long term patency remains limited by the development of vascular inflammation, intimal hyperplasia and accelerated atherosclerosis. The impact of acute exposure of venous endothelial cells (ECs) to acute arterial wall shear stress (WSS) in the arterial circulation, and the subsequent activation of inflammatory pathways, remain poorly defined. Here, we tested the hypothesis that acute exposure of venous ECs to high shear stress is associated with inflammatory responses that are regulated by NF-κB both in-vitro and ex-vivo. Analysis of the LSV endothelium revealed that activation of NF-κB occurred within 30 min after exposure to arterial rates of shear stress. Activation of NF-κB was associated with increased levels of CCL2 production and enhanced binding of monocytes in LSVECs exposed to 6 h acute arterial WSS. Consistent with this, ex vivo exposure of LSVs to acute arterial WSS promoted monocyte interactions with the vessel lumen. Inhibition of the NF-κB pathway prevented acute arterial WSS-induced CCL2 production and reduced monocyte adhesion, both in vitro and in human LSV ex vivo, demonstrating that this pathway is necessary for the induction of the acute arterial WSS-induced pro-inflammatory response. We have identified NF-κB as a critical regulator of acute endothelial inflammation in saphenous vein in response to acute arterial WSS. Localised endothelial-specific inhibition of the NF-κB pathway may be beneficial to prevent vein graft inflammation and consequent failure

Optical identification of electronic state levels of an asymmetric InAs/InGaAs/GaAs dot-in-well structure

We have studied the electronic state levels of an asymmetric InAs/InGaAs/GaAs dot-in-well structure, i.e., with an In0.15Ga0.85As quantum well (QW) as capping layer above InAs quantum dots (QDs), via temperature-dependent photoluminescence, photo-modulated reflectance, and rapid thermal annealing (RTA) treatments. It is shown that the carrier transfer via wetting layer (WL) is impeded according to the results of temperature dependent peak energy and line width variation of both the ground states (GS) and excited states (ES) of QDs. The quenching of integrated intensity is ascribed to the thermal escape of electron from the dots to the complex In0.15Ga0.85As QW + InAs WL structure. Additionally, as the RTA temperature increases, the peak of PL blue shifts and the full width at half maximum shrinks. Especially, the intensity ratio of GS to ES reaches the maximum when the energy difference approaches the energy of one or two LO phonon(s) of InAs bulk material, which could be explained by phonon-enhanced inter-sublevels carrier relaxation in such asymmetric dot-in-well structure

Dynamical Boson Stars

The idea of stable, localized bundles of energy has strong appeal as a model for particles. In the 1950s John Wheeler envisioned such bundles as smooth configurations of electromagnetic energy that he called {\em geons}, but none were found. Instead, particle-like solutions were found in the late 1960s with the addition of a scalar field, and these were given the name {\em boson stars}. Since then, boson stars find use in a wide variety of models as sources of dark matter, as black hole mimickers, in simple models of binary systems, and as a tool in finding black holes in higher dimensions with only a single killing vector. We discuss important varieties of boson stars, their dynamic properties, and some of their uses, concentrating on recent efforts.Comment: 79 pages, 25 figures, invited review for Living Reviews in Relativity; major revision in 201

The Aspartate-Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase of Edwardsiella ictaluri and Its Use as Balanced-Lethal System in Fish Vaccinology

asdA mutants of Gram-negative bacteria have an obligate requirement for diaminopimelic acid (DAP), which is an essential constituent of the peptidoglycan layer of the cell wall of these organisms. In environments deprived of DAP, i.e., animal tissues, they will undergo lysis. Deletion of the asdA gene has previously been exploited to develop antibiotic-sensitive strains of live attenuated recombinant bacterial vaccines. Introduction of an Asd+ plasmid into a ΔasdA mutant makes the bacterial strain plasmid-dependent. This dependence on the Asd+ plasmid vector creates a balanced-lethal complementation between the bacterial strain and the recombinant plasmid. E. ictaluri is an enteric Gram-negative fish pathogen that causes enteric septicemia in catfish. Because E. ictaluri is a nasal/oral invasive intracellular pathogen, this bacterium is a candidate to develop a bath/oral live recombinant attenuated Edwardsiella vaccine (RAEV) for the catfish aquaculture industry. As a first step to develop an antibiotic-sensitive RAEV strain, we characterized and deleted the E. ictaluri asdA gene. E. ictaluri ΔasdA01 mutants exhibit an absolute requirement for DAP to grow. The asdA gene of E. ictaluri was complemented by the asdA gene from Salmonella. Several Asd+ expression vectors with different origins of replication were transformed into E. ictaluri ΔasdA01. Asd+ vectors were compatible with the pEI1 and pEI2 E. ictaluri native plasmids. The balanced-lethal system was satisfactorily evaluated in vivo. Recombinant GFP, PspA, and LcrV proteins were synthesized by E. ictaluri ΔasdA01 harboring Asd+ plasmids. Here we constructed a balanced-lethal system, which is the first step to develop an antibiotic-sensitive RAEV for the aquaculture industry