Daylight photodynamic therapy using methylene blue to treat sheep with dermatophytosis caused by Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii

Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii has been identified molecularly as the causative agent of dermatophytosis in a flock of sheep. It is necessary to explore new treatment alternatives because antifungals are not approved for use on small ruminant animals in the European Union. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has been shown to be effective for the treatment of dermatophytosis in humans. It is based on the application of a photosensitizer such as methylene blue (MB) that is activated by visible light to generate reactive oxygen species that are cytotoxic to cells. The use of daylight to perform aPDT (aDL-PDT) avoids the requirement of specific equipment because it uses sunlight to activate the photosensitizer. The aim of our study is to determine the efficacy of aDL-PDT using a 1% MB solution to treat dermatophytosis caused by A. vanbreuseghemii in ewes. Two different topical protocols (1% MB solution spray applications once or twice a week) were assayed in two groups of five infected animals. Twenty-five infected sheep were untreated. All the sheep were exposed to sunlight every day for an approximate duration of 10 h for a total of four weeks. At the end of the study, all the animals treated with aDL-PDT showed the same clinical response to both protocols. In contrast, the animals exposed only to sunlight required an additional two to four weeks before their infections resolved. Conclusion: aDL-PDT with 1% MB solution demonstrates efficacy, safety and efficiency in the treatment of dermatophytosis in sheep

In vitro effect photodynamic therapy with differents photosensitizers on cariogenic microorganisms

Background: Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy has been proposed as an alternative to suppress subgingival species. This results from the balance among Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans in the dental biofilm. Not all the photosensitizers have the same photodynamic effect against the different microorganims. The objective of this study is to compare in vitro the photodynamic effect of methylene blue (MB), rose Bengal (RB) and curcumin (CUR) in combination with white light on the cariogenic microorganism S. mutans, S. sanguis and C. albicans. Results: Photodynamic therapy with MB, RB and CUR inhibited 6 log 10 the growth of both bacteria but at different concentrations: 0.31-0.62 µg/ml and 0.62-1.25 µg/ml RB were needed to photoinactivate S. mutans and S. sanguis, respectively//1.25-2.5 µg/ml MB for both species//whereas higher CUR concentrations (80-160 µg/ml and 160-320 µg/ml) were required to obtain the same reduction in S. mutans and S. sanguis viability respectively. The minimal fungicidal concentration of MB for 5 log10 CFU reduction (4.5 McFarland) was 80-160 µg/ml, whereas for RB it ranged between 320 and 640 µg/ml. For CUR, even the maximum studied concentration (1280 µg/ml) did not reach that inhibition. Incubation time had no effect in all experiments. Conclusions: Photodynamic therapy with RB, MB and CUR and white light is effective in killing S. mutans and S. sanguis strains, although MB and RB are more efficient than CUR. C. albicans required higher concentrations of all photosensitizers to obtain a fungicidal effect, being MB the most efficient and CUR ineffective

Unsuspected and extensive transmission of a drug-susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A large and unsuspected tuberculosis outbreak involving 18.7% of the total of the tuberculosis cases studied, was detected in a population-based molecular epidemiological study performed in Zaragoza (Spain) from 2001 to 2004.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>drug-susceptible strain, named <it>MTZ </it>strain, was genetically characterized by IS<it>6110</it>-RFLP, Spoligotyping and by MIRU-VNTR typing and the genetic patterns obtained were compared with those included in international databases. The characteristics of the affected patients, in an attempt to understand why the <it>MTZ </it>strain was so highly transmitted among the population were also analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The genetic profile of the <it>MTZ </it>strain was rare and not widely distributed in our area or elsewhere. The patients affected did not show any notable risk factor for TB.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The <it>M. tuberculosis </it>strain <it>MTZ</it>, might have particular transmissibility or virulence properties, and we believe that greater focus should be placed on stopping its widespread dissemination.</p

First Spanish Case of Nocardiosis Caused by Nocardia takedensis▿

Nocardia takedensis is a recently described species isolated from soil. The first clinical isolate in Japan has recently been reported. This report describes the first clinical isolate of N. takedensis in Spain from a respiratory specimen

Efficacy of Paclitaxel Balloon for Hemodialysis Stenosis Fistulae After One Year Compared to High-Pressure Balloons: A Controlled, Multicenter, Randomized Trial

Purpose: A controlled, prospective, multicenter, randomized trial to compare primary patency after angioplasty with a drug-coated balloon versus plain angioplasty balloon in stenosis of dysfunctional fistulae and grafts for hemodialysis. Materials and Methods: A total of 136 patients (148 angioplasties) at four centers were randomized to receive a drug-coated balloon or plain angioplasty balloon after satisfactory angioplasty with a high-pressure balloon. The inclusion criteria were clinical signs of vascular dysfunction confirmed by Doppler Ultrasound and/or angiography. The primary endpoint was target lesion patency defined as time elapsed between the completion of effective and the appearance of restenosis at 6 and 12 months after angioplasty. Secondary endpoints included the relationship between the location of the stenosis, previous angioplasty, demographic variables and survival. Results: Primary patency after angioplasty was higher in the group treated with the drug-coated balloon than the plain angioplasty balloon (153.01 to 141.69 days at 6 months; 265.78 to 237.83 days at 12 months). Drug-coated balloon angioplasty resulted in superior patency after 6 and 12 months, but this result was not statically significant (P = 0.068 at 6 months; P = 0.369 at 12 months). There was no relation between target lesion patency and the other variables studied. Overall mortality in the plain angioplasty balloon group was higher (9% vs. 5.7%) but not statistically significant. Conclusions: Drug-coated balloon angioplasty resulted in superior survival of dysfunctional peripheral vascular access at 6 and 12 months, but this result was not statistically significant. Both arms show equivalent complications and similar mortality

Validation and Search of the Ideal Cut-Off of the Sysmex UF-1000i® Flow Cytometer for the Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection in a Tertiary Hospital in Spain

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most prevalent infections. A rapid and reliable screening method is useful to screen out negative samples. The objective of this study was to validate the Sysmex flow cytometer UF-1000i by evaluating its accuracy, linearity and carry-over; and define an optimal cut-off value to be used in routine practice in our hospital. For the validation of the UF-1000i cytometer, precision, linearity and carry-over were studied in samples with different counts of bacteria, leukocytes and erythrocytes. Between March and June 2016, urine samples were tested in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at University Miguel Servet Hospital, in Spain. Samples were analyzed with the Sysmex UF-1000i cytometer, and cultured. Growth of ≥105 CFUs/mL was considered positive. The validation study reveals that the precision in all the variables is acceptable; that there is a good linearity in the dilutions performed, obtaining values almost identical to those theoretically expected; and for the carry-over has practically null values. A total of 1,220 urine specimens were included, of which 213 (17.4%) were culture positive. The optimal cut-off point of the bacteria–leukocyte combination was 138.8 bacteria or 119.8 leukocytes with an S and E of 95.3 and 70.4%, respectively. The UF-1000i cytometer is a valuable method to screen urine samples to effectively rule out UTI and, may contribute to the reduction of unnecessary urine cultures

Bis(methyl)gliotoxin proves to be a more stable and reliable marker for invasive aspergillosis than gliotoxin and suitable for use in diagnosis

The virulence factor gliotoxin (GT) and its inactive derivative, bis(methylthio)gliotoxin (bmGT), are produced by pathogens of the genus . Aspergillus. Here we report the detection of GT and bmGT in serum of humans at risk of invasive aspergillosis (IA) as well as in cultures of fungal isolates derived from patients with proven infection with . A. fumigatus. Although both compounds are readily recoverable from spiked human serum or plasma, only bmGT is retained in whole blood, indicating that bmGT may be the better marker for in vivo detection. Accordingly, bmGT was found more frequently than GT in samples from patients at risk of IA and incultures of clinical isolates of . A. fumigatus. In some cases, bmGT was detected before mycologic evidence ofinfection was gained. Importantly, neither GT nor bmGT was found in serum from healthy donors or from neutropenic patients without any sign of infection. Thus, bmGT presence might provide a more reliable indicator of . A. fumigatus infections than GT. Due to its simplicity and sensitivity, a diagnostic technology based on this test could be easily adopted in clinical laboratories to help in the diagnosis of this often fatal fungal infection