Biofilm formation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from bronchial alveolar lavage and from nasal swab

Introduction. Infection induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae concerns mainly children, the elderly, and people suffering from chronic diseases. The number of deaths caused by pneumococcus infections is rising worryingly. The ability to create biofilm is the main virulence factor for S. pneumoniae. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability to form biofilm (using two different dyes) of the bacterial strains isolated from nasal and BAL, and evaluate the relationship between antibiotic sensitivity and production of biofilm. Materials and methods. For the study of S. pneumoniae biofilm formation in 96-well microtitre plates, crystal violet (CV) and tetrazolium dyes — 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) were used. Results. All isolates were able to form some degree of biofilm. The results obtained by the two methods were not significantly correlated when comparing the biofilm mass. The strains produced biofilm mass intensive when the dye was CV — 29 (96.6%) strains of S. pneumoniae strong biofilm production. When the dye was TTC, it was observed that 14 (46.6%) strains of S. pneumoniae formed strong biofilm. Conclusions. There was no significant relationship between the ability of S. pneumoniae to form biofilms and the source of isolates

Fertility-conserving therapy in cervical cancer patients

Abstract Treatment of the cervical cancer patients, especially young women, is a very important clinical problem. This is related to the standard treatment methods, used in this malignancy, and the treatment complications. In most patients, the oncological treatment, be it surgery or radiotherapy, results in gonadal dysfunction with unavoidable loss of the ability to procreate. As cervical cancer affects mostly young women, fertility preserving treatment remains a considerable challenge. Due to the fact that the recent decade has brought significant progress in the diagnosis of prognostically important features characterizing the tumor biology, their precise determination enables specialists to detect a subpopulation of patients with malignancies, who do not require the total resection of the uterus and ovaries. Currently, in such cases, fertility-sparing surgery is considered in every young woman with early cervical cancer, who wishes to preserve the reproductive function. The aim of the paper is to revive the current opinions concerning fertility sparing treatment options in gynecological malignancies

IL-33 Gene Polymorphisms as Potential Biomarkers of Disease Susceptibility and Response to TNF Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis Patients

ObjectiveRheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) belong to inflammatory rheumatic diseases, the group of conditions of unknown etiology. However, a strong genetic component in their pathogenesis has been well established. A dysregulation of cytokine networks plays an important role in the development of inflammatory arthritis. Interleukin 33 (IL-33) is a recently identified member of the IL-1 family. To date, the significance of IL-33 in inflammatory arthritis has been poorly studied. This research aimed to investigate the potential of IL-33 gene polymorphisms to serve as biomarkers for disease susceptibility and TNF inhibitor response in RA, AS, and PsA patients.Materials and MethodsIn total, 735 patients diagnosed with RA, AS, and PsA and 229 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Genotyping for three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the IL-33 gene, namely, rs16924159 (A/G), rs10975519 (T/C), and rs7044343 (C/T), was performed using polymerase chain reaction amplification employing LightSNiP assays.ResultsIn the present study, the IL-33 rs10975519 CC genotype was associated with a decreased risk of developing RA in females, while the IL-33 rs16924159 polymorphism was associated with the efficacy of anti-TNF therapy and clinical parameters for RA and AS patients. The IL-33 rs16924159 AA genotype correlated with higher disease activity and worse clinical outcomes in RA patients treated with TNF inhibitors, and AS patients carrying the IL-33 rs16924159 AA genotype had higher disease activity and a worse response to anti-TNF therapy. That indicates a deleterious role of the IL-33 rs16924159 AA genotype in the context of RA, as well as AS.ConclusionsThe obtained results suggest that IL-33 gene polymorphisms might be potential candidate biomarkers of disease susceptibility and anti-TNF treatment response in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases

Role of Donor Activating KIR–HLA Ligand–Mediated NK Cell Education Status in Control of Malignancy in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients

AbstractSome cancers treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are sensitive to natural killer cell (NK) reactivity. NK function depends on activating and inhibitory receptors and is modified by NK education/licensing effect and mediated by coexpression of inhibitory killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and its corresponding HLA I ligand. We assessed activating KIR (aKIR)-based HLA I–dependent education capacity in donor NKs in 285 patients with hematological malignancies after HSCT from unrelated donors. We found significantly adverse progression-free survival (PFS) and time to progression (TTP) in patients who received transplant from donors with NKs educated by C1:KIR2DS2/3, C2:KIR2DS1, or Bw4:KIR3DS1 pairs (for PFS: hazard ratio [HR], 1.70; P = .0020, Pcorr = .0039; HR, 1.54; P = .020, Pcorr = .039; HR, 1.51; P = .020, Pcorr = .040; and for TTP: HR, 1.82; P = .049, Pcorr = .096; HR, 1.72; P = .096, Pcorr = .18; and HR, 1.65; P = .11, Pcorr = .20, respectively). Reduced PFS and TTP were significantly dependent on the number of aKIR-based education systems in donors (HR, 1.36; P = .00031, Pcorr = .00062; and HR, 1.43; P = .019, Pcorr = .038). Furthermore, the PFS and TTP were strongly adverse in patients with missing HLA ligand cognate with educating aKIR-HLA pair in donor (HR, 3.25; P = .00022, Pcorr = .00045; and HR, 3.82; P = .027, Pcorr = .054). Together, these data suggest important qualitative and quantitative role of donor NK education via aKIR-cognate HLA ligand pairs in the outcome of HSCT. Avoiding the selection of transplant donors with high numbers of aKIR-HLA-based education systems, especially for recipients with missing cognate ligand, is advisable

A systematic review of longitudinal studies on the association between depression and smoking in adolescents

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is well-established that smoking and depression are associated in adolescents, but the temporal ordering of the association is subject to debate.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Longitudinal studies in English language which reported the onset of smoking on depression in non clinical populations (age 13-19) published between January 1990 and July 2008 were selected from PubMed, OVID, and PsychInfo databases. Study characteristics were extracted. Meta-analytic pooling procedures with random effects were used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifteen studies were retained for analysis. The pooled estimate for smoking predicting depression in 6 studies was 1.73 (95% CI: 1.32, 2.40; p < 0.001). The pooled estimate for depression predicting smoking in 12 studies was 1.41 (95% CI: 1.21, 1.63; p < 0.001). Studies that used clinical measures of depression were more likely to report a bidirectional effect, with a stronger effect of depression predicting smoking.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Evidence from longitudinal studies suggests that the association between smoking and depression is bidirectional. To better estimate these effects, future research should consider the potential utility of: (a) shorter intervals between surveys with longer follow-up time, (b) more accurate measurement of depression, and (c) adequate control of confounding.</p

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Cardiac Strain in a Cohort of Fetuses Undergoing Intrauterine Blood Transfusion

Maternell immunisering är ett sjukdomstillstånd där moderns försvarsmekanism förstör fostrets röda blodkroppar och orsakar anemi hos fostret. Den primära behandlingsmetoden är intrauterina blodtransfusioner. Undersökning av foster under graviditeten utförs i stor utsträckning med hjälp av ultraljud. Ultraljudsundersökning begränsas av att fostret rör på sig och har en hög hjärtfrekvens. Målet med arbetet var att undersöka deformationen av myokardiet hos två grupper av foster. Den ena bestod av nio foster som genomgår intrauterina blodtransfusioner, den andra bestod av nio normala foster i motsvarande graviditetsvecka. Mätningar utfördes i programmet EchoPAC med 2D STE metoden, en tvådimensionell metod där speckle från myokardiet markeras och observeras över tid för att studera förändringen i hjärtats segment, hjärtdeformationen. Detta gjordes som en pilotundersökning primärt i syfte att bedöma genomförbarheten samt möjliga svårigheter med undersökningarna samt undersöka om metoden skulle kunna påvisa skillnader i deformationen mellan foster som behandlas med intrauterina blodtransfusioner och normala foster. Metoden visades vara genomförbar. Resultaten visar att deformationen i hjärtat hos foster som genomgår intrauterina blodtransfusioner är en aning högre än hos normala foster. Skillnaden i hjärtdeformationen mellan grupperna har visat sig vara signifikant.Maternal immunization is a condition in which the mother's defense mechanism destroys the red blood cells in the fetus, which causes anemia. The primary treatment method is intrauterine blood transfusions. Ultrasound is one of the most common tools used to assess fetuses. Examination with ultrasound is limited by the fetal movements and a high fetal heart rate. The aim of this project was to pilot an investigation of myocardial strain within two groups of fetuses. One group consisted of nine fetuses undergoing intrauterine blood transfusions, the other consisted of nine normal fetuses in the corresponding week of pregnancy. Measurements were performed in the program EchoPAC with the 2D STE method, a two-dimensional method where speckles from the myocardium are marked and observed over time to study the change in the heart segment, the strain. This was done primarily to investigate if measurements were feasible and what problems could occur, and secondarily whether the method could show a difference in strain between fetuses treated with intrauterine blood transfusions and normal fetuses. The results show that the measurements were feasible. Results show that the strain of the heart in fetuses undergoing intrauterine blood transfusions is higher than in normal fetuses. The difference in the strain between the groups has shown to be significan

Cardiac Strain in a Cohort of Fetuses Undergoing Intrauterine Blood Transfusion

Maternell immunisering är ett sjukdomstillstånd där moderns försvarsmekanism förstör fostrets röda blodkroppar och orsakar anemi hos fostret. Den primära behandlingsmetoden är intrauterina blodtransfusioner. Undersökning av foster under graviditeten utförs i stor utsträckning med hjälp av ultraljud. Ultraljudsundersökning begränsas av att fostret rör på sig och har en hög hjärtfrekvens. Målet med arbetet var att undersöka deformationen av myokardiet hos två grupper av foster. Den ena bestod av nio foster som genomgår intrauterina blodtransfusioner, den andra bestod av nio normala foster i motsvarande graviditetsvecka. Mätningar utfördes i programmet EchoPAC med 2D STE metoden, en tvådimensionell metod där speckle från myokardiet markeras och observeras över tid för att studera förändringen i hjärtats segment, hjärtdeformationen. Detta gjordes som en pilotundersökning primärt i syfte att bedöma genomförbarheten samt möjliga svårigheter med undersökningarna samt undersöka om metoden skulle kunna påvisa skillnader i deformationen mellan foster som behandlas med intrauterina blodtransfusioner och normala foster. Metoden visades vara genomförbar. Resultaten visar att deformationen i hjärtat hos foster som genomgår intrauterina blodtransfusioner är en aning högre än hos normala foster. Skillnaden i hjärtdeformationen mellan grupperna har visat sig vara signifikant.Maternal immunization is a condition in which the mother's defense mechanism destroys the red blood cells in the fetus, which causes anemia. The primary treatment method is intrauterine blood transfusions. Ultrasound is one of the most common tools used to assess fetuses. Examination with ultrasound is limited by the fetal movements and a high fetal heart rate. The aim of this project was to pilot an investigation of myocardial strain within two groups of fetuses. One group consisted of nine fetuses undergoing intrauterine blood transfusions, the other consisted of nine normal fetuses in the corresponding week of pregnancy. Measurements were performed in the program EchoPAC with the 2D STE method, a two-dimensional method where speckles from the myocardium are marked and observed over time to study the change in the heart segment, the strain. This was done primarily to investigate if measurements were feasible and what problems could occur, and secondarily whether the method could show a difference in strain between fetuses treated with intrauterine blood transfusions and normal fetuses. The results show that the measurements were feasible. Results show that the strain of the heart in fetuses undergoing intrauterine blood transfusions is higher than in normal fetuses. The difference in the strain between the groups has shown to be significan