Updating temperature and salinity mean values and trends in the Western Mediterranean: the RADMED project

Postprin

Polymorphism in the CD5 Gene Promoter in B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Despite the low incidence of microsatellite instability (MSI) in lymphoid malignant neoplasms, it has been reported that the CD5 promoter MSI was relatively frequent among B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorders. We studied the presence of MSI in the CD5 promoter in 134 cases of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and 47 of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) by comparing the pattern of microsatellite repeats on autologous germline and tumor DNA samples. Microsatellite alterations were not observed in any case. However, the allele distribution of this polymorphism showed a higher frequency of the 18 CA allele (0.585) in MCL cases (P = .026; odds ratio [OR], 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–2.87) and of the 19 CA allele (0.179) in B-CLL cases (P = .005; OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.27–4.01) compared with control cases (0.442 and 0.087, respectively). This suggests that although MSI seems not to be involved in the pathogenesis of these 2 lymphoid malignant neoplasms, the polymorphic CD5 promoter is associated with increased susceptibility to these disorders.Supported by the LAIR Foundation, Madrid, Spain, and by grant SAF2002-04329 from the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, Spain

Advances in Electronic-Nose Technologies Developed for Biomedical Applications

The research and development of new electronic-nose applications in the biomedical field has accelerated at a phenomenal rate over the past 25 years. Many innovative e-nose technologies have provided solutions and applications to a wide variety of complex biomedical and healthcare problems. The purposes of this review are to present a comprehensive analysis of past and recent biomedical research findings and developments of electronic-nose sensor technologies, and to identify current and future potential e-nose applications that will continue to advance the effectiveness and efficiency of biomedical treatments and healthcare services for many years. An abundance of electronic-nose applications has been developed for a variety of healthcare sectors including diagnostics, immunology, pathology, patient recovery, pharmacology, physical therapy, physiology, preventative medicine, remote healthcare, and wound and graft healing. Specific biomedical e-nose applications range from uses in biochemical testing, blood-compatibility evaluations, disease diagnoses, and drug delivery to monitoring of metabolic levels, organ dysfunctions, and patient conditions through telemedicine. This paper summarizes the major electronic-nose technologies developed for healthcare and biomedical applications since the late 1980s when electronic aroma detection technologies were first recognized to be potentially useful in providing effective solutions to problems in the healthcare industry

Modified Spot CAMP Test: A rapid, inexpensive and accurate method for identification of group B streptococci Prueba de CAMP por spot modificada: Un método rápido, preciso y económico para la identificación de estreptococos grupo B

A rapid modified spot CAMP test using 183 clinical isolates of &#946; haemolytic streptococci was compared with the standard CAMP test described by Christie et al. The scheme of biochemical identification and serological confirmation was taken as reference method. The sensitivity of both tests was 100%, and the specificity of the rapid and standard tests was 96.8% and 88.9% respectively. The modified spot CAMP test is a rapid, inexpensive and accurate method for the identification of group B streptococci, and is more specific than the standard CAMP test.<br>En este estudio se comparó los resultados de una prueba de CAMP por spot modificada en 20 minutos y la prueba de CAMP original descripta por Christie et al usada para la identificación de Streptococcus agalactiae. Se analizaron 183 aislamientos de estreptococos &#946; hemolíticos, tomando como método de referencia el esquema tradicional de identificación bioquímica y confirmación serológica. La sensibilidad de ambas pruebas fue del 100% y la especificidad de la prueba rápida y la estándar fue de 96,8% y 88,9% respectivamente. La prueba de CAMP por spot modificada es un método rápido, económico y seguro para la identificación de estreptococos del grupo B y posee mayor especificidad que la prueba original

Class 2 Integron with a Novel Cassette Array in a Burkholderia cenocepacia Isolate

Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) are gram-negative opportunistic emerging  pathogens associated with a poor prognosis for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Carbapenems and  ceftazidime are administrated to patients suffering from BCC infections, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole has historically been the drug of choice. Recently, the acquisition of determinants to sulfamethoxazole located in the 3´-conserved region of class 1 integrons have been described in BCC isolates from CF patients. The goal of this study was to determine the presence of  class 1, 2 and 3 integrons in a Burkholderia cenocepacia (BC1) strain that was isolated from the sputum of a 14-years-old CF patient in a surgery and transplant center from Buenos Aires City, Argentina.Fil: Ramirez, Maria Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Jorda Vargas, Liliana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología. Área Parasitología; ArgentinaFil: Cagnoni, Viviana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología. Área Parasitología; ArgentinaFil: Tokumoto, Marta. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología. Área Parasitología; ArgentinaFil: Centron, Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentin

Estudio microbiológico de bacteriemias y fungemias en pacientes en hemodiálisis crónica Microbiologic study of bacteremia and fungemia in chronic hemodialysis patients

Las bacteriemias y fungemias constituyen la segunda causa de muerte en pacientes en hemodiálisis crónica (HDC) y el conocimiento de su epidemiología es útil para establecer terapias empíricas apropiadas. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la frecuencia y distribución de microorganismos en bacteriemias y fungemias de 530 pacientes en HDC. Se analizaron 248 series de hemocultivos correspondientes a 114 pacientes con sospecha de bacteriemias. Se obtuvo un 44% de hemocultivos positivos, de los cuales el 71% (n=78), correspondientes a 58 episodios de bacteriemia, fueron considerados clínicamente significativos. El 68% de los aislamientos clínicamente significativos fueron cocos gram-positivos (n=53) y el 22% bacilos gram-negativos (BGN) (n=17). Staphylococcus aureus fue el patógeno prevalente con un 23% de meticilina-resistencia. Candida spp. ocupó el cuarto lugar de frecuencia.<br>Bloodstream infections are the second cause of death in patients in chronic hemodialysis (CHD), and the knowledge of the epidemiology is useful to establish proper empiric therapies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and distribution of microorganisms, in bacteremia and fungemia in 530 patients in CHD. Two hundred and forty eight blood culture series from 114 patients with suspected bacteremia were processed; 44% of them were positive from which 71% (n=78) were clinically significative and belonged to 58 patients. Sixty eight percent of these isolates were gram-positive cocci (n:53), and 22% gram-negative rods (n:17). Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent pathogen showing 23% of methicillin-resistance. Candida spp. was the fourth pathogen most common in frequency

A sustained activation of PI3K/NF-κB pathway is critical for the survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells

The progressive rise of mature CD5+ B lymphocytes, despite the low proportion of proliferating cells, has led to the notion that B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is primarily related to defective apoptosis. The microenvironment likely plays a prominent role because the malignant cells progressively accumulate in vivo, whereas they rapidly undergo spontaneous apoptosis when cultured in vitro. To assess microenvironment-mediated survival signals, B-CLL cells were cultured with a murine fibroblast cell line, Ltk−, with and without an agonistic antibody to CD40. Spontaneous apoptosis was associated with the loss of Akt and NF-κB activities. Interactions with fibroblasts sustained a basal level of Akt and NF-κB activities, which was dependent on phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K). Constitutive activity of the PI3K pathway in B-CLL cells when cultured with fibroblasts prevented the downregulation of the prosurvival Bcl-2 family protein Bcl-xL and the caspase inhibitor proteins FLIPL and XIAP, and consequently caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. CD40 crosslinking in B-CLL cells did not further prevent murine fibroblasts-mediated apoptosis but induced cell proliferation, which was associated with an increase of Akt and NF-κB activation compared with cells cultured with fibroblasts alone. The PI3K pathway seems to play a pivotal role in B-CLL cell survival and growth.This work was supported by Fundación LAIR, Madrid, Spain