In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfinate and Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfonate Derived from Allium spp. against Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Human Samples

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro antibacterial activity of two compounds derived from Alliaceae, PTS (propyl-propane-thiosulfinate), and PTSO (propyl-propane-thiosulfonate), with that of other antibiotics commonly used against bacteria isolated from humans. Materials and methods: A total of 212 gram-negative bacilli and 267 gram-positive cocci isolated from human clinical samples and resistant to at least one group of antibiotics were selected. In order to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) to various antibiotics as well as PTS and PTSO, all isolates underwent broth microdilution assay. Results: PTS showed moderate activity against Enterobacteriaceae with MIC50 (and MBC50) and MIC90 (and MBC90) values of 256-512 mg/L, while PTSO showed greater activity with MIC50 and MIC90 values of 64-128 mg/L and MBC50 and MBC90 values of 128-512 mg/L. These data show the bactericidal activity of both compounds and indicate that PTSO was more active than PTS against this group of bacteria. Both compounds showed lower activity against P. aeruginosa (MIC50 = 1024 mg/L, MIC90 = 2048 mg/L, MBC50 = 2048 mg/L, and MBC90 = 2048 mg/L, for PTS; MIC50 = 512 mg/L, MIC90 = 1024 mg/L, MBC50 = 512 mg/L, and MBC90 = 2048 mg/L, for PTSO) compared to those obtained in others nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli (MIC50 = 128 mg/L, MIC90 = 512 mg/L, MBC50 = 128 mg/L, and MBC90 = 512 mg/L, for PTS; MIC50 = 64 mg/L, MIC90 = 256 mg/L, MBC50 = 64 mg/L, and MBC90 = 256 mg/L, for PTSO) and also indicate the bactericidal activity of both compounds against these groups of bacteria. Finally, the activity against S. aureus, E. faecalis, and S. agalactiae was higher than that observed against enterobacteria, especially in the case of PTSO (MIC50 = 8 mg/L, MIC90 = 8 mg/L, MBC50 = 32 mg/L, and MBC90 = 64 mg/L, in S. aureus; MIC50 = 4 mg/L, MIC90 = 8 mg/L, MBC50 = 8 mg/L, and MBC90 = 16 mg/L, in E. faecalis and S. agalactiae). Conclusion: PTS and PTSO have a significant broad spectrum antibacterial activity against multiresistant bacteria isolated from human clinical samples. Preliminary results in present work provide basic and useful information for development and potential use of these compounds in the treatment of human infections

Characterisation and antimicrobial activity of active polypropylene films containing oregano essential oil and Allium extract to be used in packaging for meat products

Cooked ham is more prone to spoilage than other meat products, making preservation a key step in its commercialisation. One of the most promising preservation strategies is the use of active packaging. Oregano essential oil (OEO) and Proallium® (an Allium extract) have previously been shown to be useful in polylactic acid (PLA)-active films for ready-to-eat salads. The present work aims to study the suitability of polypropylene (PP) films containing OEO and Proallium® in the preservation of cooked ham. Concerning the technological features of the studied material, no significant changes in the mechanical or optical properties of PP films containing the active substances were recorded in comparison to the PP film without extracts. However, films containing both active substances were more flexible than the control film and less strong, highlighting the plasticisation effect of the natural extracts. Moreover, physical properties changed when active substances were added to the film. Incorporation of 4% Proallium® affected the transparency of the film to a higher extent compared to 8% OEO, undergoing decreases in transparency of 40% and 45%, respectively. Moreover, only the film containing the highest amount of OEO (8%) significantly decreased the thickness. Both active substances showed antibacterial properties; however, Proallium®-active films seemed to be more effective against Brochothrix thermosphacta than PP films containing OEO, with all percentages of Proallium® killing the bacterial population present in the ham after 60 days. In addition, materials containing the lowest Proallium® content exhibited higher acceptability by consumers in the sensory analyses with 63–100% willing to purchase, better even than the control package (56–89%). In fact, 2% of Proallium® obtained the best results in the odour study performed by the panellists.Junta de Andalucía (AGR7252)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación y Fondos FEDER (AGL2012-38357-C02-01

Measuring retail trade using card transactional data

En este trabajo se presenta un Índice de Comercio Minorista (ICM) de alta dimensionalidad construido para España, estimado a partir del uso de datos masivos. La información utilizada se corresponde con la que surge de las transacciones con tarjetas de crédito y de débito de los clientes de BBVA en terminales de punto de venta (TPV) españoles. Los índices obtenidos son robustos cuando se comparan con los que publica el Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), tanto para el conjunto de España como para las distintas regiones y los diferentes canales de distribución. Dando un paso más, se calculan los índices mensuales por provincias y por sectores (información no publicada por el INE) y se construye un índice general diario. A partir de este último índice, se analizan además las pautas de consumo en alta frecuencia a través de un modelo estructural de series temporalesIn this paper we present a high-dimensionality Retail Trade Index (RTI) constructed to nowcast the retail trade sector economic performance in Spain, using Big Data sources and techniques. The data are the footprints of BBVA clients from their credit or debit card transactions at Spanish point of sale (PoS) terminals. The resulting indexes have been found to be robust when compared with the Spanish RTI, regional RTI (Spain’s autonomous regions), and RTI by retailer type (distribution classes) published by the National Statistics Institute (INE). We also went one step further, computing the monthly indexes for the provinces and sectors of activity and the daily general index, by obtaining timely, detailed information on retail sales. Finally, we analyzed the high-frequency consumption dynamics using BBVA retailer behavior and a structural time series mode

Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfinate and Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfonate, Two Organosulfur Compounds from Allium cepa: In Vitro Antimicrobial Effect via the Gas Phase

Propyl-propane thiosulfinate (PTS) and propyl-propane thiosulfonate (PTSO) are two volatile compounds derived from Allium cepa with a widely documented antimicrobial activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate their anti-candidiasis activity and the ability of its gaseous phase to inhibit bacterial and yeast growth in vitro. The minimum inhibitory concentration of various antifungal products (including PTS and PTSO) was determined versus 203 clinical isolates of Candida spp. through broth microdilution assay. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity through aerial diffusion of PTS and PTSO was evaluated over the growth of a collection of bacteria and yeasts cultivated in agar plates. All yeasts were susceptible to the antifungals tested, except C. glabrata and C. krusei, that showed azole resistance. PTSO (MIC50 and MIC90 ranged from 4 to 16 mg/L and 8 to 32 mg/L, respectively) was significantly more active against yeasts than PTS (MIC50 and MIC90 ranged from 16 to 64 mg/L and 32 to 64 mg/L). Values were higher than those obtained for antifungal drugs. Gaseous phases of PTS and PTSO generated growth inhibition zones whose diameters were directly related to the substances concentration and inversely related to the microbial inoculum. The quantification of PTS and PTSO levels reached in the growth media through aerial diffusion displayed a concentration gradient from the central zone to the periphery. Only P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 showed resistance, while yeasts (C. albicans ATCC 200955 and C. krusei ATCC 6258) presented the higher susceptibility to both compounds. These results suggest that PTS and PTSO display antibacterial and anti-candidiasis activity in vitro through aerial diffusion, having potential use in human therapy

Allium-Based Phytobiotic Enhances Egg Production in Laying Hens through Microbial Composition Changes in Ileum and Cecum

The misuse of antibiotics has led several countries to ban their use as prophylactics against bacterial diseases or as growth promoters in livestock and poultry. Phytobiotics (bioactive compounds extracted from plants) are one of the alternatives, due to their antimicrobial activity and its modulation of the gut microbiota and the improvement of productive properties. Garlic and onion extracts, rich in antimicrobial compounds, are of the most promising alternative to antibiotics. We supplemented a garlic- and onion-based product in the diet to laying hens at the beginning of their productive life. The group supplied with this product produced in one month more eggs and with bigger size. This increase in production was accompanied by changes in the bacterial community of the gut. These changes in the microbiota suggest an improvement in food digestibility, as the most important changes produced by these compounds occur in the most distal parts of the gut. The relative abundance of beneficial Lactococcus in the ileum and Lactobacillus in the cecum increased in the experimental group. Both genera are known to have beneficial effects on host. These results are very promising for the use of these compounds in poultry for short periods.Phytobiotics (bioactive compounds extracted from plants) are one of the explored alternatives to antibiotics in poultry and livestock due to their antimicrobial activity and its positive effects on gut microbiota and productive properties. In this study, we supplemented a product based on garlic and onion compounds in the diet to laying hens at the beginning of their productive life (from 16 to 20 weeks post-hatching). The experimental group showed a significant increase in the number of eggs laid and in their size, produced in one month compared to the control. This increase in production was accompanied by microbiota changes in the ileum and cecum by means of high throughput sequencing analyses. These bacterial shifts in the ileum were mainly the result of compositional changes in the rare biosphere (unweighted UniFrac), while in the cecum, treatment affected both majority and minority bacterial groups (weighted and unweighted UniFrac). These changes in the microbiota suggest an improvement in food digestibility. The relative abundance of Lactococcus in the ileum and Lactobacillus in the cecum increased significantly in the experimental group. The relative abundance of these bacterial genera are known to have positive effects on thSpanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo (Junta de Andalucía)University of Granada-CEI BioTic (Project No. P-BS-37)INTERCONECTA program (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness

Egg Production in Poultry Farming Is Improved by Probiotic Bacteria

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most serious threats for human health in the near future. Livestock has played an important role in the appearance of antibioticresistant bacteria, intestinal dysbiosis in farming animals, or the spread of AMR among pathogenic bacteria of human concern. The development of alternatives like probiotics is focused on maintaining or improving production levels while diminishing these negative effects of antibiotics. To this end, we supplied the potential probiotic Enterococcus faecalis UGRA10 in the diet of laying hens at a final concentration of 108 Colony Forming Units per gram (CFU/g) of fodder. Its effects have been analyzed by: (i) investigating the response of the ileum and caecum microbiome; and (ii) analyzing the outcome on eggs production. During the second half of the experimental period (40 to 76 days), hens fed E. faecalis UGRA10 maintained egg production, while control animals dropped egg production. Supplementation diet with E. faecalis UGRA10 significantly increased ileum and caecum bacterial diversity (higher bacterial operational taxonomic unit richness and Faith’s diversity index) of laying hens, with animals fed the same diet showing a higher similarity in microbial composition. These results point out to the beneficial effects of E. faecalis UGRA10 in egg production. Future experiments are necessary to unveil the underlying mechanisms that mediate the positive response of animals to this treatment.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo (Junta de Andalucía), the University of Granada- CEI BioTic (Project No. P-BS-37), and the INTERCONECTA program (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness). JP-S was funded by Junta de Andalucia (Proyectos de Excelencia 2011- RNM-8147)

Alternativa al uso de antibióticos en animales de granja y acuicultura

Introducción. El desarrollo de sistemas intensivos en producción animal tanto en ganadería como en acuicultura ha dado lugar a una serie de problemas asociados como las distintas zoonosis que amenazan al sector o el incremento de las resistencias bacterianas como consecuencia del abuso de antibióticos terapéuticos y promotores del crecimiento. El aumento de la resistencia a antibióticos tanto de bacterias comensales como patógenas ha llevado a que en los últimos años las autoridades sanitarias hayan restringido el uso de dichos antibióticos en producción animal. Esto ha llevado a investigadores y productores a la búsqueda de alternativas sostenibles como el empleo de probióticos y extractos vegetales con actividad antimicrobiana.Objetivos. El objetivo de esta línea de investigación es evaluar la influencia sobre la microbiota intestinal y los parámetros productivos de animales de granja de piensos suplementados con una cepa potencialmente probiótica de E. faecalis (UGRA10) (Cebrian et al., 2012) y de diferentes preparaciones de un extracto de aliáceas (DOMCA, España).Resultados. La suplementación en la dieta de gallinas ponedoras con el enterococo o con el extracto de aliáceas produjo un incremento significativo de la producción de huevos y cambios en la comunidad bacteria de íleon y ciego. Resultados similares se observaron en lechones recién destetados, en doradas y en lubinas, en cuyas dietas se suministró el extracto de aliáceas. En estos tres grupos de animales, el grupo al que se le suministró el extracto experimentaron una mejora significativa en varios parámetros productivos, asociados estos a cambios en la comunidad bacteriana de íleon y ciego con respecto a animales con dietas basales. En el caso de los lechones, el efecto del extracto fue en general similar al que experimentaron lechones a los que se les suministró colistina, un antibiótico frecuentemente usado en ganadería. Ciertos grupos bacterianos considerados tradicionalmente beneficiosos experimentaron incrementos significativos en sus abundancias relativas, mientras que otros potencialmente patógenos disminuyeron.Conclusiones. Estos resultados sugieren que la administración de ciertos microorganismos potencialmente probióticos como E. faecalis UGRA10 o extractos vegetales como el extracto de aliáceas son capaces de modificar la composición de la microbiota intestinal de gallinas ponedoras, cerdos, doradas y lubinas. Estos cambios en la microbiota están asociados a mejoras en la productividad de estos animales. Estudios futuros serían necesarios para profundizar en este tema, sobre todo aquellos relacionados con mejoras en el estado sanitario general de los animales, como el sistema inmune

Economía social solidaria como buen vivir: Diagnóstico en América Latina

La economía social y solidaria en América Latina nace como concepto hacia mediados de los años setenta, inicialmente en Brasil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile y Ecuador, con el fin de lograr un factor de igualdad de condiciones entre todas las personas pertenecientes a una sociedad. Sin embargo, es necesario recalcar que la idea de economía social y solidaria inició desde tiempo atrás, puesto que a finales del siglo XVIII ya existían  comunidades que se unían con la intención de hacer frente a las dificultades económicas de la época. Este concepto, en esencia, busca abrir mercados o convenios que logren mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas con el ánimo de minimizar los intereses propios, dando prioridad a los intereses colectivos y generando de esta manera unanimidad en la población. El fundamento principal de la existencia de este nuevo modelo económico es el de concretar una participación más activa de las sociedades con menores posibilidades de intervención en la economía convencional, ya que se debe tener en cuenta que el modelo económico que prevalece en la actualidad dificulta que los países en vías de desarrolloalternativas logren un cambio significativo en sus condiciones de vida

Clinical and Ecological Impact of an Educational Program to Optimize Antibiotic Treatments in Nursing Homes (PROA-SENIOR): A Cluster, Randomized, Controlled Trial and Interrupted Time-Series Analysis

[Background] Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are recommended in nursing homes (NHs), although data are limited. We aimed to determine the clinical and ecological impact of an ASP for NHs.[Methods] We performed a cluster, randomized, controlled trial and a before–after study with interrupted time-series analyses in 14 NHs for 30 consecutive months from July 2018 to December 2020 in Andalusia, Spain. Seven facilities implemented an ASP with a bundle of 5 educational measures (general ASP) and 7 added 1-to-1 educational interviews (experimental ASP). The primary outcome was the overall use of antimicrobials, calculated monthly as defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 resident days (DRD).[Results] The total mean antimicrobial consumption decreased by 31.2% (−16.72 DRD; P = .045) with respect to the preintervention period; the overall use of quinolones and amoxicillin–clavulanic acid dropped by 52.2% (P = .001) and 42.5% (P = .006), respectively; and the overall prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) decreased from 24.7% to 17.4% (P = .012). During the intervention period, 12.5 educational interviews per doctor were performed in the experimental ASP group; no differences were found in the total mean antimicrobial use between groups (−14.62 DRD; P = .25). Two unexpected coronavirus disease 2019 waves affected the centers increasing the overall mean use of antimicrobials by 40% (51.56 DRD; P < .0001).[Conclusions] This study suggests that an ASP for NHs appears to be associated with a decrease in total consumption of antimicrobials and prevalence of MDROs. This trial did not find benefits associated with educational interviews, probably due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.[Clinical Trials Registration] NCT03543605.Peer reviewe

Effectiveness of an intervention for improving drug prescription in primary care patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy:Study protocol of a cluster randomized clinical trial (Multi-PAP project)

This study was funded by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias ISCIII (Grant Numbers PI15/00276, PI15/00572, PI15/00996), REDISSEC (Project Numbers RD12/0001/0012, RD16/0001/0005), and the European Regional Development Fund ("A way to build Europe").Background: Multimorbidity is associated with negative effects both on people's health and on healthcare systems. A key problem linked to multimorbidity is polypharmacy, which in turn is associated with increased risk of partly preventable adverse effects, including mortality. The Ariadne principles describe a model of care based on a thorough assessment of diseases, treatments (and potential interactions), clinical status, context and preferences of patients with multimorbidity, with the aim of prioritizing and sharing realistic treatment goals that guide an individualized management. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a complex intervention that implements the Ariadne principles in a population of young-old patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. The intervention seeks to improve the appropriateness of prescribing in primary care (PC), as measured by the medication appropriateness index (MAI) score at 6 and 12months, as compared with usual care. Methods/Design: Design:pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial. Unit of randomization: family physician (FP). Unit of analysis: patient. Scope: PC health centres in three autonomous communities: Aragon, Madrid, and Andalusia (Spain). Population: patients aged 65-74years with multimorbidity (≥3 chronic diseases) and polypharmacy (≥5 drugs prescribed in ≥3months). Sample size: n=400 (200 per study arm). Intervention: complex intervention based on the implementation of the Ariadne principles with two components: (1) FP training and (2) FP-patient interview. Outcomes: MAI score, health services use, quality of life (Euroqol 5D-5L), pharmacotherapy and adherence to treatment (Morisky-Green, Haynes-Sackett), and clinical and socio-demographic variables. Statistical analysis: primary outcome is the difference in MAI score between T0 and T1 and corresponding 95% confidence interval. Adjustment for confounding factors will be performed by multilevel analysis. All analyses will be carried out in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: It is essential to provide evidence concerning interventions on PC patients with polypharmacy and multimorbidity, conducted in the context of routine clinical practice, and involving young-old patients with significant potential for preventing negative health outcomes. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02866799Publisher PDFPeer reviewe