318 research outputs found
Ticarcillin hypersusceptibility in pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis
Background: A subpopulation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) exists in cysticfibrosis (CF) patients that is hypersusceptible to ticarcillin, a carboxypenicillin, in vitro (Tichs strain) defined as a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≤4μg/ml. Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, isolates of PsA from CF (23), non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) (17) and control (18) patients were analysed. MICs for each isolate were determined using agar dilution against six antibiotics and interpreted using EUCAST breakpoints. Prevalence of Tichs in each cohort was calculated. A point prevalence survey was conducted in CF to review the patients’ clinical progress following PsA isolation. Results: Prevalence of the Tichs strain in PsA was 48%, 76% and 0% in the CF, NCFB and control cohorts respectively. A statistically significant difference in geometric mean MIC was seen between the Tichs and non-Tichs cohorts in CF for ticarcillin (as expected) and temocillin (p=0.041and p=0.036 respectively). A similar trend was observed in NCFB for ticarcillin (p=0.038) and temocillin (p=0.067), although statistical significance was not reached for the latter.In CF, the Tichs strain demonstrated lower MICs to all antibiotics tested apart from gentamicin compared to their non-Tichs counterparts. Those who had the Tichs strain in CF had fewer antibiotics (13.9 days versus 23.5 days, Tichs and non-Tichs respectively) although this result was not statistically significant p=0.202. Conclusion: Our data supports the existence of a Tichs strain of PsA in our CF and NCFB patient populations. This strain correlated with reduced MICs to temocillin in CF, to which PsA would normally be resistant, which may be of clinical relevance.</p
Valuation study for a preference-based quality of life measure for dental caries (Dental Caries Utility Index - DCUI) among Australian adolescents - study protocol.
IntroductionA new health state classification system has been developed for dental caries - Dental Caries Utility Index (DCUI) to facilitate the assessment of oral health interventions in the cost-utility analysis (CUA). This paper reports the protocol for a valuation study, which aims to generate a preference-based algorithm for the classification system for the DCUI.Methods and analysisDiscrete choice experiments (DCEs) will be conducted to value health states generated by the DCUI classification system and preferences for these health states will be modelled to develop a utility algorithm. DCEs produce utility values on a latent scale and these values will be anchored into the full health-dead scale to calculate the quality-adjusted life years in CUA. There is no previous evidence for the most suitable anchoring method for dental caries health state valuation. Hence, we will first conduct pilot studies with two anchoring approaches; DCE including duration attribute and DCE anchoring to worst heath state in Visual Analogue Scale. Based on the pilot studies, the most suitable anchoring method among two approaches will be used in the main valuation survey, which will be conducted as an online survey among a representative sample of 2000 adults from the Australian general population. Participants will be asked to complete a set of DCE choice tasks along with anchoring tasks, basic social-demographic questions, DCUI, a generic preference-based measure and oral health quality of life instrument.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for this study was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee, Griffith University (reference number HREC/2019/550). The generated algorithm will facilitate the use of the new dental caries preference-based measure in economic evaluations of oral health interventions. The results will be disseminated through journal articles and professional conferences
FACTORS LIMITING SEED GERMINATION IN Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea GAERTN f. AND Pempilis acidula J R & FORST
Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea is a highly threatened true mangrove confined to JafTna and asingle locality in Kalpitiya (Trimen 1974; Dassanayake and Clayton 1998). Pemphisacidula is restricted to small pockets in few coastal areas. Both produce fruits and seedsnevertheless, seedlings were not observed in their natural habitats. Factors governing seedgermination in these two species were studied. For all experiments, randomly collected ripe.seed samples were used within two weeks of collection. Moist filter paper method was usedand daily observations were recorded.In P. acidula, seed production was 100%. Percentage of fruit bearing seeds was 10% in S.hydrophyllacea, but none of them gave rise to healthy seedlings. Seed germination of bothspecies was 0% in water collected from respective natural habitats. In P. acidula%germination was 35% in 75% and 40% in 87.5% dilution of water from natural habitat.In distilled water, 65% of the seeds germinated. Continuous washing of seeds in runningtap water increased percentage germination to 75%.Dormancy breaking treatments such as heat treatment, seed nicking, acid base treatment,cold treatment and treatment with gibberellic acid did not increase germination abovenormal 65% value.Exposure to natural light, photoperiod and oxygen level also affected seed germination.Analysis of data consisted of ANa VA at 5% level of significance using Minitab package.In P. acidula, salinity of soil water (up to 34 ppt) and salt deposits on seed coat seem to bemajor causes hindering seed germination in natural habitat. Seeds buried ill sand may alsonot receive adequate amount of light (Isikawa 1962; Fujii 1962). Oxygen concentrationmay 1I0tbe enough when the ground is covered with water during tides. Lack of seedlingsmay therefore be due to lack of seed germination under natural conditions.In S. hydrophyllacea, very low percentage of seed bearing fruits and inability to producehealthy seedlings explain why it has become highly threatened. Production of large numberof seedless fruits and inability to produce normal seedlings could be due to genetic disorderin seeds, which is a very common phenomenon known as inbreeding depression inisolated, small populations.Presence of self-sterility and the absence of pollinator niight be some other reasons. Hence,studies on the possibility of propagating S. hydrophyllacea by vegetative means areurgently needed to conserve this highly threatened tree species.
Save reefs to rescue all ecosystems
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Nature Research via the DOI in this recor
Sri Lankan Finger Millet (Elucine coracana) Variety ‘Raavana’ as Potential Probiotic Source
This study aims to isolate and identify probiotic potential lactic acid bacteria from
fermented Sri Lankan finger millet variety "Raavana" and to investigate the probiotic
characteristics, in vitro safety and efficacy. A bacterial isolate with typical lactic acid bacterial
phenotypic and biochemical characteristics was isolated and identified. Partial sequence of the
16S rRNA gene of the Sri Lankan strain was deposited in the NCBI gene bank as Lactococcus
lactis subsp. lactis FM_19LAB and the accession number MF480428 was obtained. It did
not demonstrate hemolysis, DNase, gelatine hydrolysis activity as well as did not acquire
complete resistance to any of the antibiotics tested hence indicating the safety. Lactococcus
lactis subsp. lactis FM_19LAB had the capacity to tolerate different concentrations of acid,
bile, phenol, salt, simulated gastric juices and range of temperatures. Further it exhibited
anti-microbial, anticancer and anti-oxidant activities. Further, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis
FM_19LAB assimilated cholesterol and produced lactic acid during the fermentation
Cancer and thrombosis: Managing the risks and approaches to thromboprophylaxis
Patients with cancer are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared with patients without cancer. This results from both the prothrombotic effects of the cancer itself and iatrogenic factors, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, indwelling central venous devices and surgery, that further increase the risk of VTE. Although cancer-associated thrombosis remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality, it is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. However, evidence is accumulating to support the use of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) in the secondary prevention of VTE in patients with cancer. Not only have LMWHs been shown to be at least as effective as coumarin derivatives in this setting, but they have a lower incidence of complications, including bleeding, and are not associated with the practical problems of warfarin therapy. Furthermore, a growing number of studies indicate that LMWHs may improve survival among patients with cancer due to a possible antitumor effect. Current evidence suggests that LMWHs should increasingly be considered for the long-term management of VTE in patients with cancer
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