Interdomain competition: Arabidopsis thaliana versus Soil Bacteria

Plants in their natural habits are constantly competing with other organisms.Arabidopsis thaliana is a model plant that must germinate and grow in the presence ofcommon soil bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. A.thalianamay compete with soil bacteria such as for water, micronutrients, and the carbohydrate produced by photosynthesis. If there is competition between plants and soil bacteria, conditions that favor the growth of microorganisms will negatively impact plant development.A. thaliana was grown in petri dishes inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. Murashige and Skoog agar, a plant growth media, was used initially, to favor plant growth. The experiment was done in both warm conditions, that favor bacteria, and cool conditions, that discourage bacterial growth, and at high and low concentrations of bacteria. Later in the experiment, the growth of P. aureginosa and B. subtilis was enhanced by adding nutrient broth to the petri dishes. We found that, under these conditions, the plants are only vulnerable to bacterial competition at the earliest stages, and only with low concentration of B. subtilis under warm conditions. Bacterial growth later in plant development actually seems to promote plant growth

Applying social influence insights to encourage climate resilient domestic water behaviour: Bridging the theory-practice gap

Water scarcity is one of the most pressing issues of our time and it is projected to increase as global demand surges and climate change limits fresh water availability. If we are to reduce water demand, it is essential that we draw on every tool in the box, including one that is underestimated and underutilised: social influence. Research from the psychological sciences demonstrates that behaviour is strongly influenced by the behaviour of others, and that social influence can be harnessed to develop cost-effective strategies to encourage climate resilient behaviour. Far less attention has been paid to investigating water-related interventions in comparison to interventions surrounding energy. In this paper we consider the application of three social influence strategies to encourage water conservation: social norms; social identity; and socially-comparative feedback. We not only review their empirical evidence base, but also offer an example of their application in the residential sector with the aim of highlighting how theoretical insights can be translated into practice. We argue that collaborations between researchers and industry are essential if we are to maximise the potential of behaviour change interventions to encourage climate resilient water behaviour

Epidemiology of intra-abdominal infection and sepsis in critically ill patients: “AbSeS”, a multinational observational cohort study and ESICM Trials Group Project

Purpose: To describe the epidemiology of intra-abdominal infection in an international cohort of ICU patients according to a new system that classifies cases according to setting of infection acquisition (community-acquired, early onset hospital-acquired, and late-onset hospital-acquired), anatomical disruption (absent or present with localized or diffuse peritonitis), and severity of disease expression (infection, sepsis, and septic shock). Methods: We performed a multicenter (n = 309), observational, epidemiological study including adult ICU patients diagnosed with intra-abdominal infection. Risk factors for mortality were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Results: The cohort included 2621 patients. Setting of infection acquisition was community-acquired in 31.6%, early onset hospital-acquired in 25%, and late-onset hospital-acquired in 43.4% of patients. Overall prevalence of antimicrobial resistance was 26.3% and difficult-to-treat resistant Gram-negative bacteria 4.3%, with great variation according to geographic region. No difference in prevalence of antimicrobial resistance was observed according to setting of infection acquisition. Overall mortality was 29.1%. Independent risk factors for mortality included late-onset hospital-acquired infection, diffuse peritonitis, sepsis, septic shock, older age, malnutrition, liver failure, congestive heart failure, antimicrobial resistance (either methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Gram-negative bacteria, or carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria) and source control failure evidenced by either the need for surgical revision or persistent inflammation. Conclusion: This multinational, heterogeneous cohort of ICU patients with intra-abdominal infection revealed that setting of infection acquisition, anatomical disruption, and severity of disease expression are disease-specific phenotypic characteristics associated with outcome, irrespective of the type of infection. Antimicrobial resistance is equally common in community-acquired as in hospital-acquired infection

Translational models for vascular cognitive impairment: a review including larger species.

BACKGROUND: Disease models are useful for prospective studies of pathology, identification of molecular and cellular mechanisms, pre-clinical testing of interventions, and validation of clinical biomarkers. Here, we review animal models relevant to vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). A synopsis of each model was initially presented by expert practitioners. Synopses were refined by the authors, and subsequently by the scientific committee of a recent conference (International Conference on Vascular Dementia 2015). Only peer-reviewed sources were cited. METHODS: We included models that mimic VCI-related brain lesions (white matter hypoperfusion injury, focal ischaemia, cerebral amyloid angiopathy) or reproduce VCI risk factors (old age, hypertension, hyperhomocysteinemia, high-salt/high-fat diet) or reproduce genetic causes of VCI (CADASIL-causing Notch3 mutations). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that (1) translational models may reflect a VCI-relevant pathological process, while not fully replicating a human disease spectrum; (2) rodent models of VCI are limited by paucity of white matter; and (3) further translational models, and improved cognitive testing instruments, are required

Prevalencia de esofagitis eosinofílica: estudio multicéntrico en población pediátrica evaluada en 36 centros de gastroenterología de América Latina

Introducción y objetivo: La esofagitis eosinofílica es una enfermedad crónica, mediada inmunológicamente, descrita en series y publicaciones alrededor del mundo. En los últimos 20 años diversos estudios han intentado evaluar la incidencia y prevalencia de la enfermedad. El objetivo del presente trabajo es estimar la prevalencia de esofagitis eosinofílica en un grupo de niños atendidos en 36 centros de gastroenterología pediátrica de 10 países latinoamericanos. Materiales y métodos: A través de un protocolo multicéntrico, observacional y transversal se estimó la prevalencia de período de esofagitis eosinofílica entre los niños atendidos en consulta externa y sometidos a endoscopia superior diagnóstica por cualquier motivo en 36 centros de 10 países latinoamericanos durante un período de 3 meses. Resultados: Entre abril y junio de 2016 108 casos de esofagitis eosinofílica fueron evaluados. Asimismo, un promedio de 29,253 consultas ambulatorias y 4,152 endoscopias superiores de carácter diagnóstico fueron realizadas en los 36 centros participantes. La tasa de prevalencia de esofagitis eosinofílica en la población estudiada (n = 29,253) fue de 3,69 casos × 1,000 (IC 95%: 3.04 a 4.44) y entre los niños sometidos a endoscopia superior de rutina (n = 4,152) fue de 26 x 1,000 (IC 95%: 22.6 a 29.4). Conclusión: La tasa general de prevalencia de período de esofagitis eosinofílica en un grupo de niños evaluados en 36 centros latinoamericanos de gastroenterología pediátrica resultó de 3,69 × 1,000, y entre aquellos sometidos a endoscopia fue de 26 × 1,000. La prevalencia mostró una importante variabilidad entre los países y centros participantes. Este es el primer estudio de prevalencia de esofagitis eosinofílica pediátrica en Latinoamérica. Abstract: Introduction and objective: Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease described in case series and publications worldwide. Over the past twenty years, the authors of different studies have attempted to evaluate its incidence and prevalence. The objetive of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis in a group of children seen at 36 pediatric gastroenterology centers in ten Latin American countries. Materials and methods: A multicenter, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted that estimated the period prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis in children seen at outpatient consultation and that underwent diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for any indication at 36 centers in 10 Latin American countries, within a 3-month time frame. Results: Between April and June 2016, 108 cases of eosinophilic esophagitis were evaluated. Likewise, an average of 29,253 outpatient consultations and 4,152 diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopies were carried out at the 36 participating centers. The period prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis in the population studied (n = 29,253) was 3.69 cases × 1,000 (95% CI: 3.04 to 4.44), and among the children that underwent routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (n = 4,152), it was 26 x 1,000 (95% CI: 22.6 to 29.4). Conclusions: The general period prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis in a group of children evaluated at 36 Latin American pediatric gastroenterology centers was 3.69 × 1,000, and in the children that underwent endoscopy, it was 26 × 1,000. There was important prevalence variability between the participating countries and centers. The present analysis is the first study conducted on the prevalence of pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis in Latin America. Palabras clave: Esofagitis, Eosinofílica, Niños, Prevalencia, Latinoamérica, Keywords: Esophagitis, Eosinophilic, Children, Prevalence, Latin Americ

Alergia al polen de las oleaceas en un lugar donde no hay olivos

Antecedentes y objetivos: El polen del fresno (Fraxinus excelsior), arbol perteneciente a la familia Oleaceae, se ha descrito recientemente como un alergeno relevante en algunos paises centroeuropeos. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar la importancia que este polen tiene como factor desencadenante de los sintomas alergicos que sufren, al final del invierno y principio de la primavera, algunos pacientes que viven en Pais Vasco, donde no existen olivos pero el fresno es un arbol abundante. Métodos: Se seleccionaron 48 pacientes que se clasificaron en tres grupos en funcion de la sensibilizacion predominante: pacientes alergicos a oleaceas (O), alergicos a gramineas (G) y alergicos a ambos polenes (M). Los pacientes se dividieron ademas en dos grupos en funcion de la epoca en la que tenian los sintomas: pacientes con sintomas tempranos o pacientes con sintomas tardios. Se les realizo la prueba del prick con una bateria de polenes, pruebas de exposicion conjuntival con extractos de polen de olivo y de fresno y la determinacion de IgE especifica (EAST) frente a varios polenes. Resultados: En el grupo O, el 100% de los pacientes tuvo sintomas tempranos, esto es, coincidiendo con la floracion del fresno y antes de aparecer el polen de las gramineas. En los grupos M y G los porcentajes de pacientes con sintomas tempranos fueron del 40% y 16%, respectivamente. Las pruebas de provocacion conjuntival con polen de olivo y fresno resultaron positivos en el 100% y 70%, respectivamente, de los pacientes del grupo O, en el 78% y 50% del grupo M y en el 58% y 31% del grupo G. Los pacientes con sintomas tempranos tuvieron con mayor frecuencia pruebas cutaneas positivas frente al polen de F. excelsior (p < 0,05) y unas concentraciones de IgE especifica frente a F. excelsior significativamente mayores (p < 0,05) que los pacientes con sintomas tardios. Las pruebas de provocacion conjuntival con polen de O. europaea fueron de mayor intensidad en los pacientes con sintomas tempranos. Conclusión: Los pacientes que residen en Pais Vasco y sufren sintomas durante el final del invierno y el comienzo de la primavera tenian una sensibilizacion predominante al polen del fresno y del olivo, en comparacion con los pacientes que unicamente tenian sintomas tardios (en mayo y junio). El polen del fresno puede considerarse una posible causa de polinosis en aquellos lugares donde su presencia es frecuente

Plasma and peritoneal fluid population pharmacokinetics of micafungin in post-surgical patients with severe peritonitis

Objectives: Limited information about the pharmacokinetics of micafungin in the peritoneal cavity is available. The aim of this study was to explore the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of micafungin in plasma and peritoneal fluid in post-surgical critically ill patients with proven or suspected intra-abdominal fungal infection

A política do intangível : museus e patrimônios em nova perspectiva

Apresentação, Livio Sansone 7; Ao ritmo dos Bumbas: obliterações e desigualdades na construção de um patrimônio festivo brasileiro (c. 1900-1950), Antonio Evaldo Almeida Barros 13; Batuko de Cabo Verde: percurso histórico-musical, Gláucia Nogueira 47; A capoeira como patrimônio cultural: na roda da memória quem inscreve identidades?, Gabriel da Silva Vidal Cid 71; Novas configurações e narrativas sobre o lugar das manifestações culturais numa localidade do recôncavo baiano, Agrimaria Nascimento Matos 93; Bembé do mercado de Santo Amaro: o patrimônio afro imprime as cores da festa, Ana Rita Araújo Machado 107; Legados artísticos e culturais afro-colombianos: em memória de Delia, Juan e Manuel Zapata Olivella, Sergio Andrés Sandoval 139; Os papéis de Juan Gualberto Gómez no arquivo nacional de Cuba: ensaio experimental sobre a memória histórica dos negros e mulatos, Pedro Alexander Cubas Hernández 167; El patrimonio que tenemos y el que ellos quieren ver. Destinos indígenas y políticas de turismo y patrimonio cultural inmaterial en Colombia, Margarita Chaves e Giselle Nova 197; Patrimonializaciones y emprendimientos culturales del afropacífico: el festival Petronio Álvarez de Cali como plataforma para la promoción de los etnicismos, Carlos Andrés Meza 219; Algumas considerações sobre museus digitais, Marcelo Nascimento Bernardo da Cunha 241; Museus on-line: longevidade e conservação digital da memória, Jamile Borges da Silva 263; Museu digital da memória afro-brasileira: um ato de resistência, Myrian Sepúlveda dos Santos 277; Global african hair: representação e recepção do cabelo crespo numa exposição fotográfica, Angela Figueiredo 293; Las memorias rebeldes: museo itinerante arte por la memoria, Karen Bernedo Morales 313; Patrimonio.Org e os dilemas da patrimonialização do intangível: da invisibilidade á hipervisibilidade de alguns aspectos da cultura afro-brasileira, Livio Sansone 327; Sobre os autores 347