17 research outputs found
In vitro activity of daptomycin, linezolid and rifampicin on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms
Owing to their massive use, Staphylococcus
epidermidis has recently developed significant resistance to
several antibiotics, and became one of the leading causes of
hospital-acquired infections. Current antibiotics are typically
ineffective in the eradication of bacteria in biofilmassociated
persistent infections. Accordingly, the paucity
of effective treatment against cells in this mode of growth
is a key factor that potentiates the need for new agents
active in the prevention or eradication of biofilms. Daptomycin
and linezolid belong to the novel antibiotic therapies
that are active against gram-positive cocci. On the other
hand, rifampicin has been shown to be one of the most
potent, prevalent antibiotics against S. epidermidis biofilms.
Therefore, the main aim of this study was to study
the susceptibility of S. epidermidis biofilm cells to the two
newer antimicrobial agents previously mentioned, and
compare the results obtained with the antimicrobial effect
of rifampicin, widely used in the prevention/treatment of
indwelling medical device infections. To this end the in
vitro activities of daptomycin, linezolid, and rifampicin on
S. epidermidis biofilms were accessed, using these antibiotics
at MIC and peak serum concentrations. The results
demonstrated that at MIC concentration, rifampicin was the
most effective antibiotic tested. At peak serum concentration,
both strains demonstrated similar susceptibility to
rifampicin and daptomycin, with colony-forming units
(CFUs) reductions of approximately 3â4 log10, with a
slightly lower response to linezolid, which was also more
strain dependent. However, considering all the parameters
studied, daptomycin was considered the most effective
antibiotic tested, demonstrating an excellent in vitro
activity against S. epidermidis biofilm cells. In conclusion,
this antibiotic can be strongly considered as an acceptable
therapeutic option for S. epidermidis biofilm-associated
infections and can represent a potential alternative to rifampicin
in serious infections where rifampicin resistance
becomes prevalent.Bruna Leite acknowledges the financial support from ISAC/Program Erasmus Munds External Cooperation and the IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar. Fernanda Gomes and Pilar Teixeira fully acknowledge the financial support from Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) through the grants SFRH/BD/32126/2006 and SFRH/BPD/26803/2006, respectively
Corneal Transduction by Intra-Stromal Injection of AAV Vectors In Vivo in the Mouse and Ex Vivo in Human Explants
The cornea is a transparent, avascular tissue that acts as the major refractive surface of the eye. Corneal transparency, assured by the inner stroma, is vital for this role. Disruption in stromal transparency can occur in some inherited or acquired diseases. As a consequence, light entering the eye is blocked or distorted, leading to decreased visual acuity. Possible treatment for restoring transparency could be via viral-based gene therapy. The stroma is particularly amenable to this strategy due to its immunoprivileged nature and low turnover rate. We assayed the potential of AAV vectors to transduce keratocytes following intra-stromal injection in vivo in the mouse cornea and ex vivo in human explants. In murine and human corneas, we transduced the entire stroma using a single injection, preferentially targeted keratocytes and achieved long-term gene transfer (up to 17 months in vivo in mice). Of the serotypes tested, AAV2/8 was the most promising for gene transfer in both mouse and man. Furthermore, transgene expression could be transiently increased following aggression to the cornea
The Effect of Tear Supplementation on Ocular Surface Sensations during the Interblink Interval in Patients with Dry Eye.
PURPOSE: To investigate the characteristics of ocular surface sensations and corneal sensitivity during the interblink interval before and after tear supplementation in dry eye patients. METHODS: Twenty subjects (41.88+/-14.37 years) with dry eye symptoms were included in the dry eye group. Fourteen subjects (39.13+/-11.27 years) without any clinical signs and/or symptoms of dry eye were included in the control group. Tear film dynamics was assessed by non-invasive tear film breakup time (NI-BUT) in parallel with continuous recordings of ocular sensations during forced blinking. Corneal sensitivity to selective stimulation of corneal mechano-, cold and chemical receptors was assessed using a gas esthesiometer. All the measurements were made before and 5 min after saline and hydroxypropyl-guar (HP-guar) drops. RESULTS: In dry eye patients the intensity of irritation increased rapidly after the last blink during forced blinking, while in controls there was no alteration in the intensity during the first 10 sec followed by an exponential increase. Irritation scores were significantly higher in dry eye patients throughout the entire interblink interval compared to controls (p0.05). CONCLUSION: Ocular surface irritation responses due to tear film drying are considerably increased in dry eye patients compared to normal subjects. Although tear supplementation improves the protective tear film layer, and thus reduce unpleasant sensory responses, the rapid rise in discomfort is still maintained and might be responsible for the remaining complaints of dry eye patients despite the treatment
Noninvasive Keratograph assessment of tear film break-up time and location in patients with age-related cataracts and dry eye syndrome
Tear Film Interferometry as a Diagnostic Tool for Evaluating Normal and Dry-Eye Tear Film
Use of an Autologous Lamellar Scleral Graft to Repair a Scleral Melt After Mitomycin Application
Cholinergic agonists transactivate EGFR and stimulate MAPK to induce goblet cell secretion
Infrared thermography of the tear film in dry eye
Infrared ocular thermograms were recorded for a group of 36 dry eye patients and for 27 age- and sex-matched controls. Mean ocular surface temperature was greater in the dry eye group (32.38 +/- 0.69 degrees C) compared with the control group (31.94 +/- 0.54 degrees C; p < 0.01). In addition, there was a greater variation of temperatures across the ocular surface in the dry eye group, illustrated by the difference in temperature between the limbus and the centre of the cornea (0.64 +/- 0.20 degrees C in dry eye patients compared with 0.41 +/- 0.20 degrees C in the control group; p < 0.001). This parameter was also shown to be greater in dry eye patients who displayed either a fast tear break-up time or a poor Schirmer's test result. Infrared thermography is a non-invasive and objective technique that may prove a useful research tool for study of the tear film, its deficiencies and its various treatment modalities