Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Pregnant Women and Their Newborns in Las Vegas, Nevada

Colonization and infection by resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus are being reported in epidemic proportions. The goal of this study was to determine the local prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in pregnant women in southern Nevada and how it correlates with colonization and infection of their neonates. Signed consent was obtained, and a brief questionnaire was administered by the medical staff to each pregnant woman to collect demographic data and pertinent medical, family and social history. Nasal and vaginal specimens were obtained from pregnant women at ≥35 weeks gestation, and nasal and umbilicus specimens were obtained from their newborns. Specimens were cultured onto two selective media for S. aureus and MRSA. Potential MRSA isolates were further evaluated for susceptibility to antibiotics. Specimens from 307 pregnant women and 174 neonates were collected, resulting in 172 mother-neonate paired specimens. A total of 278 questionnaires were received from study participants. MRSA prevalence in pregnant women was 1.0% and 0.3% for nasal and vaginal specimens, respectively. The MRSA prevalence in neonates was 0% and 0.6% for nasal and umbilical specimens, respectively. Four different antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were observed among the MRSA isolates. The results did not show transmission of MRSA from pregnant women to their newborns, or infections of newborns with MRSA. It is expected that the results of this study will inform future decisions on surveillance, treatment and prevention of MRSA infections in Nevada

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Agent Susceptibility of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Healthy Pediatric Outpatients in Las Vegas

Colonization and infection by community-associated resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus are being reported in epidemic proportions. The purpose of this study was to determine the local prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in children and to characterize the MRSA isolates in the laboratory with regard to antimicrobial agent susceptibility patterns, and the presence of the mecA and the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes. Nasal swabs were collected at two pediatric clinics from a total of 505 children during health maintenance visits. A brief questionnaire was administered to collect demographic data and pertinent medical, family, and social history. Samples were cultured onto 2 selective media for S. aureus and MRSA. Potential MRSA isolates were further evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and for susceptibility to eight antibiotics by disk diffusion. Culture results showed that MRSA was present in 15 of the 505 specimens (3.0%). Six different antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were observed among the MRSA isolates. PCR amplification results showed that all 15 MRSA isolates were positive for the presence of the mecA gene, and 10 MRSA isolates contained the PVL gene. Understanding local prevalence rates and the role of colonization in infection are needed to develop effective interventions to reduce MRSA infections

Design of a millifluidic device for the evaluation of blue-light disinfection on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 biofilm

Significance: For the first time to our knowledge, a millifluidic device has been designed to observe the effects of blue-light irradiation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 bacterial biofilm. Approach: A bacterial biofilm is formed under controlled flow of nutrients in microfabricated channels settled on a microscope stage. The setup is devised to apply defined irradiation and evaluate the photo-killing efficiency in situ using video-microscopy and fluorescent probes. Results: We investigated bacterial survival after delivering a precise, controlled and spatially defined blue light dose upon growing biofilm. We demonstrate in this report that the combined use of constitutive GFP and propidium iodide in a millifluidic setup enables to evidence light-induced mortality at the single cell and community level. Conclusions: Real-time monitoring of a bacterial biofilm growing in a millifluidic device after irradiation opens an avenue for a better understanding of the biofilm community response to blue-light, permitting researchers to approach photokilling efficiency of biofilm as a dynamic process

α4* Nicotinic Receptors in preBotzinger Complex Mediate Cholinergic/Nicotinic Modulation of Respiratory Rhythm

Acetylcholine and nicotine can modulate respiratory patterns by acting on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the preBötzinger complex (preBötC). To further explore the molecular composition of these nAChRs, we studied a knock-in mouse strain with a leucine-to-alanine mutation in the M2 pore-lining region (L9′A) of the nAChR α4 subunit; this mutation renders α4-containing receptors hypersensitive to agonists. We recorded respiratory-related rhythmic motor activity from hypoglossal nerve (XIIn) and patch-clamped preBötC inspiratory neurons in an in vitro medullary slice preparation from neonatal mice. Nicotine affected respiratory rhythm at concentrations ∼100-fold lower in the homozygous L9′A knock-in mice compared with wild-type mice. Bath application of 5 nm nicotine increased the excitability of preBötC inspiratory neurons, increased respiratory frequency, and induced tonic/seizure-like activities in XIIn in L9′A mice, effects similar to those induced by 1 μm nicotine in wild-type mice. In L9′A mice, microinjection of low nanomolar concentrations of nicotine into the preBötC increased respiratory frequency, whereas injection into the ipsilateral hypoglossal (XII) nucleus induced tonic/seizure-like activity. The α4*-selective nAChR antagonist dihydro-β-erythroidine produced opposite effects and blocked the nicotinic responses. These data, showing that nAChRs in the preBötC and XII nucleus in L9'A mice are hypersensitive to nicotine and endogenous ACh, suggest that functional α4* nAChRs are present in the preBötC. They mediate cholinergic/nicotinic modulation of the excitability of preBötC inspiratory neurons and of respiratory rhythm. Furthermore, functional α4* nAChRs are present in XII nucleus and mediate cholinergic/nicotinic modulation of tonic activity in XIIn

Reliability of gastrointestinal barrier integrity and microbial translocation biomarkers at rest and following exertional heat stress

Purpose:Exertional heat stress adversely distrupts (GI) barrier integrity and, through subsequent microbial translocation (MT), negativly impacts health. Despite widespread application, the temporal reliability of popular GI barrier integity and MT biomarkers is poorly characterised. Method: Fourteen males completed two 80‐min exertional heat stress tests (EHST) separated by 7–14 days. Venous blood was drawn pre, immediately‐ and 1‐hr post both EHSTs. GI barrier integrity was assessed using the serum Dual‐Sugar Absorption Test (DSAT), Intestinal Fatty‐Acid‐Binding Protein (I‐FABP) and Claudin‐3 (CLDN‐3). MT was assessed using plasma Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein (LBP), total 16S bacterial DNA and Bacteroides DNA. Results: No GI barrier integrity or MT biomarker, except absolute Bacteroides DNA, displayed systematic trial order bias (p ≥ .05). I‐FABP (trial 1 = Δ 0.834 ± 0.445 ng ml−1; trial 2 = Δ 0.776 ± 0.489 ng ml−1) and CLDN‐3 (trial 1 = Δ 0.317 ± 0.586 ng ml−1; trial 2 = Δ 0.371 ± 0.508 ng ml−1) were increased post‐EHST (p ≤ .01). All MT biomarkers were unchanged post‐EHST. Coefficient of variation and typical error of measurement post‐EHST were: 11.5% and 0.004 (ratio) for the DSAT 90‐min postprobe ingestion; 12.2% and 0.004 (ratio) at 150‐min postprobe ingestion; 12.1% and 0.376 ng ml−1 for I‐FABP; 4.9% and 0.342 ng ml−1 for CLDN‐3; 9.2% and 0.420 µg ml−1 for LBP; 9.5% and 0.15 pg µl−1 for total 16S DNA; and 54.7% and 0.032 for Bacteroides/total 16S DNA ratio. Conclusion: Each GI barrier integrity and MT translocation biomarker, except Bacteroides/total 16S ratio, had acceptable reliability at rest and postexertional heat stress

Workforce Projections 2010-2020: Annual Supply and Demand Forecasting Models for Physical Therapists Across the United States

BACKGROUND: Health human resources continue to emerge as a critical health policy issue across the United States. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a strategy for modeling future workforce projections to serve as a basis for analyzing annual supply of and demand for physical therapists across the United States into 2020. DESIGN: A traditional stock-and-flow methodology or model was developed and populated with publicly available data to produce estimates of supply and demand for physical therapists by 2020. METHODS: Supply was determined by adding the estimated number of physical therapists and the approximation of new graduates to the number of physical therapists who immigrated, minus US graduates who never passed the licensure examination, and an estimated attrition rate in any given year. Demand was determined by using projected US population with health care insurance multiplied by a demand ratio in any given year. The difference between projected supply and demand represented a shortage or surplus of physical therapists. RESULTS: Three separate projection models were developed based on best available data in the years 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. Based on these projections, demand for physical therapists in the United States outstrips supply under most assumptions. LIMITATIONS: Workforce projection methodology research is based on assumptions using imperfect data; therefore, the results must be interpreted in terms of overall trends rather than as precise actuarial data-generated absolute numbers from specified forecasting. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes of this projection study provide a foundation for discussion and debate regarding the most effective and efficient ways to influence supply-side variables so as to position physical therapists to meet current and future population demand. Attrition rates or permanent exits out of the profession can have important supply-side effects and appear to have an effect on predicting future shortage or surplus of physical therapists

Gastrointestinal Tolerance of Low, Medium and High Dose Acute Oral l-Glutamine Supplementation in Healthy Adults: A Pilot Study

l-Glutamine (GLN) is a conditionally essential amino acid which supports gastrointestinal (GI) and immune function prior to catabolic stress (e.g., strenuous exercise). Despite potential dose-dependent benefits, GI tolerance of acute high dose oral GLN supplementation is poorly characterised. Fourteen healthy males (25 ± 5 years; 1.79 ± 0.07 cm; 77.7 ± 9.8 kg; 14.8 ± 4.6% body fat) ingested 0.3 (LOW), 0.6 (MED) or 0.9 (HIGH) g·kg·FFM−1 GLN beverages, in a randomised, double-blind, counter-balanced, cross-over trial. Individual and accumulated GI symptoms were recorded using a visual analogue scale at regular intervals up to 24-h post ingestion. GLN beverages were characterised by tonicity measurement and microscopic observations. 24-h accumulated upper- and lower- and total-GI symptoms were all greater in the HIGH, compared to LOW and MED trials (p 0.05). All beverages were isotonic and contained a dose-dependent number of GLN crystals. Acute oral GLN ingestion in dosages up to 0.9 g·kg·FFM−1 are generally well-tolerated. However, the severity of mild GI symptoms appeared dose-dependent during the first two hours post prandial and may be due to high-concentrations of GLN crystals

The Bristol CMIP6 Data Hackathon

The Bristol CMIP6 Data Hackathon formed part of the Met Office Climate Data Challenge Hackathon series during 2021, bringing together around 100 UK early career researchers from a wide range of environmental disciplines. The purpose was to interrogate the under-utilised but currently most advanced climate model inter-comparison project datasets to develop new research ideas, create new networks and outreach opportunities in the lead up to COP26. Experts in different science fields, supported by a core team of scientists and data specialists at Bristol, had the unique opportunity to explore together interdisciplinary environmental topics summarised in this article