Dynamics of bovine intramammary infections due to coagulase-negative staphylococci on four farms

The objectives of this study were to compare the impact of different coagulase-negative species (CNS) on udder health measured in terms of individual quarter milk somatic cell count (SCC) and duration of intramammary infection, and to get some insight into most likely routes of infection for different CNS species. This longitudinal observational study was performed on four farms that were sampled at 4-week intervals for a total of 12 visits each. Quarters infected with CNS were followed through time with milk samples being submitted for bacteriological culture and SCC determination. PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer region and sequencing of the sodA and rpoB genes were used for species allocation. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed to assess strain identity. The percentage of quarters affected per farm varied between 6 and 35%, with the most frequently isolated CNS species being Staphylococcus epidermidis, followed by Staph. simulans, Staph. chromogenes and Staph. haemolyticus. It was possible to follow 111 intramammary infections due to CNS through time. Duration of infection had a mean of 188 d and was not significantly different between CNS species. Geometric mean quarter SCC overall was 132 000 cells/ml and was also not significantly different between CNS species. Despite the possibility of a different epidemiology of infection, the impact in terms of udder health seems to be similar for different CNS species

Gla-rich protein (GRP) as an early and novel marker of vascular calcification and kidney dysfunction in diabetic patients with CKD: a pilot cross-sectional study

Vascular calcification (VC) is one of the strongest predictors of cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. New diagnostic/prognostic tools are required for early detection of VC allowing interventional strategies. Gla-rich protein (GRP) is a cardiovascular calcification inhibitor, whose clinical utility is here highlighted. The present study explores, for the first time, correlations between levels of GRP in serum with CKD developmental stage, mineral metabolism markers, VC and pulse pressure (PP), in a cohort of 80 diabetic patients with mild to moderate CKD (stages 2-4). Spearman's correlation analysis revealed a positive association of GRP serum levels with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and α-Klotho, while a negative correlation with phosphate (P), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), vascular calcification score (VCS), PP, calcium (x) phosphate (CaxP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Serum GRP levels were found to progressively decrease from stage 2 to stage 4 CKD. Multivariate analysis identified low levels of eGFR and GRP, and high levels of FGF-23 associated with both the VCS and PP. These results indicate an association between GRP, renal dysfunction and CKD-mineral and bone disorder. The relationship between low levels of GRP and vascular calcifications suggests a future, potential utility for GRP as an early marker of vascular damage in CKD.Portuguese Society of Nephrology (SPN) ; Portuguese national funds from FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology through the transitional provision DL57/2016/CP1361/CT0006 UIDB/04326/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Beliefs and attitudes of profissionals about marital violence: studies with health profissionals, policemen and teachers

Este artigo apresenta um conjunto de investigações cujo objectivo foi caracterizar as crenças dos profissionais mais directamente implicados na resposta e prevenção da violência conjugal face a este fenómeno. Para tal, um instrumento de avaliação das crenças sobre a violência conjugal foi administrado a um conjunto de 226 profissionais de saúde, 85 agentes de segurança e 280 professores. Os resultados evidenciam uma tendência para a discordância moderada, nas três amostras estudadas, relativamente aos mitos e crenças legitimadoras do abuso conjugal. Subsistem, contudo, alguns mitos relacionados com a raridade do problema, a sua atribuição a causas externas e a protecção da privacidade familiar. Os sujeitos mais velhos e de sexo masculino exibem, tendencialmente, uma maior legitimação da violência.This article presents a set of three research projects that aimed to characterize the beliefs about marital violence of the professionals most directly implied in the response and prevention of this problem. A research questionnaire that evaluates beliefs about marital violence was administered to a sample of 226 health professionals, 85 law enforcement agents and 280 teachers. On the global results show a tendency to moderate disagreement with beliefs that legitimize this form of abuse. Some myths, however, persist in these samples, namely those related to the privacy of the problem, its rarity and attribution to external causes. Male and older subjects show, in general, higher levels of violence legitimization

O sistema interno de promoção e garantia da qualidade e o sistema de informação integrado da Universidade de Évora

Nos últimos anos a Universidade de Évora (UEvora) tem vindo a efetuar uma aposta estratégica no desenvolvimento de um sistema de informação que integre a monitorização e melhoria continuada das componentes académicas e de investigação com as componentes de garantia de qualidade e de gestão. Neste sentido, a UEvora tem desenvolvido, desde 1993, modelos dinâmicos e sistemáticos de (re)organização interna dos seus procedimentos e práticas, com vista à operacionalização de resultados que garantam a conquista de índices de qualidade evolutivos no tempo, dando assim origem ao Sistema Interno de Promoção e Garantia da Qualidade (SIPGQ). Determinante para o sucesso do SIPGQ tem sido o trabalho dos Serviços de Informática, nomeadamente pelo desenvolvimento, desde 1999, do Sistema de Informação Integrado (SIIUE). O SIIUE é um sistema que foi implementado recorrendo exclusivamente a tecnologias baseadas em software livre, tais como, o sistema gestor de base de dados PostgreSQL e a linguagem PHP, integrando as componentes académicas mais diretamente relacionadas com os alunos (matrículas, inscrições, avaliações) e com os docentes (distribuição de serviço, horários, pautas) com as componentes de investigação e desenvolvimento (gestão de projetos de I&D, contratos de colaboração e prestação de serviços). Tendo em conta o interesse manifestado por diversas instituições de Ensino Superior portuguesas e estrangeiras, a UEvora está a iniciar um processo de consolidação e modularização, visando a sua disponibilização futura a outras instituições. O SIPGQ é o sistema de garantia de qualidade da UEvora e é um dos poucos sistemas que, em Portugal, foi certificado pela A3ES – Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior. O SIPGQ integra indicadores elaborados com informação base proveniente do SIIUE, assim como o resultado de inquéritos de opinião realizados aos alunos sobre as unidades curriculares que frequentaram, o seu curso e a Universidade. Esta integração permite efetuar a geração automática de relatórios de unidades curriculares, de curso e de unidade orgânica. Também o processo de avaliação dos docentes e das unidades orgânicas da UEvora encontram enquadramento e suporte no SIPGQ e no SIIUE, respetivamente. Em suma, tanto o SIIUE e o SIPGQ constituem-se como ferramentas fundamentais para o apoio a uma gestão informada na Universidade de Évora

Gla-Rich protein, magnesium and phosphate associate with mitral and aortic valves calcification in Didabetic patients with moderate CKD

Accelerated and premature cardiovascular calcification is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Valvular calcification (VC) is a critical indicator of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in this population, lacking validated biomarkers for early diagnosis. Gla-rich protein (GRP) is a cardiovascular calcification inhibitor recently associated with vascular calcification, pulse pressure, mineral metabolism markers and kidney function. Here, we examined the association between GRP serum levels and mitral and aortic valves calcification in a cohort of 80 diabetic patients with CKD stages 2–4. Mitral and aortic valves calcification were detected in 36.2% and 34.4% of the patients and associated with lower GRP levels, even after adjustments for age and gender. In this pilot study, univariate, multivariate and Poisson regression analysis, show that low levels of GRP and magnesium (Mg), and high levels of phosphate (P) are associated with mitral and aortic valves calcification. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of GRP for mitral (0.762) and aortic (0.802) valves calcification were higher than those of Mg and P. These results suggest that low levels of GRP and Mg, and high levels of P, are independent and cumulative risk factors for VC in this population; the GRP diagnostic value might be potentially useful in cardiovascular risk assessment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

What is the role of apelin regarding cardiovascular risk and progression of renal disease in type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy?

Aims. To evaluate the association of different apelin levels with cardiovascular mortality, hospitalization, renal function, and cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetic patients with mild to moderate CKD. Methods. An observational, prospective study involving 150 patients divided into groups according to baseline apelin levels: 1 = 329 pg/mL. Baseline characteristics were analyzed and compared. Multivariate Cox regression was used to find out predictors of cardiovascular mortality, and multivariate logistic regression was used to find out predictors of hospitalization and disease progression. Simple linear regressions and Pearson correlations were used to investigate correlations between apelin and renal disease and cardiovascular risk factors. Results. Patients' survival at 83 months in groups 1, 2, and 3 was 39%, 40%, and 71.2%, respectively (P = 0.046). Apelin, age, and eGFR were independent predictors of mortality, and apelin, creatinine, eGFR, resistin, and visfatin were independent predictors of hospitalization. Apelin levels were negatively correlated with cardiovascular risk factors and positively correlated with eGFR. Patients with lower apelin levels were more likely to start a depurative technique. Conclusions. Apelin levels might have a significant clinical use as a marker/predictor of cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization or even as a therapeutic agent for CKD patients with cardiovascular disease

The life marker chip : potential use of aptamers against small molecules and consideration of instrument planetary protection

The Life Marker Chip (LMC) instrument was developed with the aim to detect evidence of life on Mars. The detection was based on an inhibition immunoassay. In this work aptamers were evaluated as potential alternative to antibodies for the LMC. Aptamers were synthetic oligonucleotides able to bind specifically with high affinity to a wide range of target molecules, and have been also integrated as bioreceptors in several detection instruments. The generation of new aptamers against two small molecules using the FluMag-SELEX method was tested and was verified the adaptability of pre-existing aptamers against small targets to the LMC assay type. Based on the fact that the LMC was going to be integrated into the space programme ExoMars, it was also implemented into a small scale experiment the Planetary Protection and Contamination Control requirements found on a life-search mission. In addition to that aptamers compatibility with a sterilisation procedure used in life-search missions was also tested. Furthermore because of the nature of the small molecules studied, multiple analytical chemistry techniques were assessed to verify covalent chemistry surface immobilisation. Within the project timeline it was not possible to achieve a full aptamer generation process but it was possible to understand the methodology behind the procedure and give input for future work. It was found that the direct implementation of existing aptamers against small molecules into the LMC assay was not successful. It was also seen that in the case of aptamer integration onto the LMC some assay changes would probably have to be made. This information was very useful to understand if aptamers could be an alternative to antibodies and be implemented directly into the LMC. It was found that aptamers survived the preliminary sterilisation method applied, which might open the possibility of making aptamers convenient space bioreceptors, reducing time and costs of instrument Planetary Protection implementation. In conclusion aptamers were not straightforward alternatives to antibodies for the LMC because aptamers interacted differently with their targets in comparison to antibodies, particularly with small molecules. Also the biochemical simplicity of the small molecule targets introduced difficulties in aptamers generation that more complex targets would have not. Although aptamers shown incompatibility with the LMC assay format against small targets, they presented resilience to a sterilisation procedure implemented on space missions which could lead to the development of more robust bioreceptors for space missions. This information was helpful in understanding which assay formats were better for detection of small molecules using aptamers and that might contribute for future assay choices applied in detection instruments. It was also possible to make recommendations for the LMC regarding design and validation methods used in life-search missions based on the lessons learn from the developed of a small scale experiment. The developed work was presented at conferences and mentioned in an article journal, and in that way contributed to the knowledge of the space community in general

Optimisation of an aptamer-biosensor to detect C-reactive protein

Dissertação de Mestrado, Engenharia Biológica, Faculdade de Engenharia de Recursos Naturais, Universidade do Algarve, 2009A proteína C reactiva (PCR) é um biomarcador de doenças caracterizadas por uma resposta inflamatória aguda; tais como: doenças coronárias, diabetes mellitus ou carcinomas. A detecção desta proteína em fluidos corporais, em especial em soro humano pode ainda determinar risco de desenvolvimento futuro de doenças coronárias em indivíduos aparentemente saudáveis. Foi realizado a optimização de um novo biosensor aplicando a técnica de Voltametria de Pulso Diferencial (DPV). A detecção foi realizada em solução tampão aquosa utilizando eléctrodos de carbono e o produto enzimático electroactivo da reacção de 1- naftil fosfato com alcalina fosfatase. Neste trabalho foi optimizado, em solução tampão, o tempo de incubação e o valor de concentração da alcalina fosfatase conjugada com streptavidina. As condições finais foram testadas em solução de soro humano livre de PCR diluído 1:10. A proteína C-reactiva foi retirada do meio líquido aplicando a técnica de ensaio imunológica “sandwich”. O ensaio requereu como suporte sólido esferas magnéticas cobertas por streptavidina e como captores biológicos um aptamero de RNA e um anticorpo monoclonal, ambos biotinilados. O tempo optimizado de incubação foi de 10 min e a concentração óptima de fosfatase alcalina acoplada a streptavidina foi de 0.22U/ml. Estas condições em meio tampão demonstraram um limite de detecção de pelo menos 0.1mg/l de PCR com um coeficiente de variação igual a ±14.45%. Para as mesmas condições, mas em soro humano livre de PCR, o limite de detecção foi de pelo menos 0.5mg/l de concentração proteica e o coeficiente de variância de ±7.32%. O biosensor desenvolvido demonstrou elevada exactidão, reprodutibilidade, relativa sensibilidade e rápida concretização do ensaio quando comparado com outros métodos de detecção tradicionais. Deste modo o novo biosensor desenvolvido apresenta-se como um excelente candidato à detecção da PCR no campo do diagnóstico médico.C-reactive protein is a biomarker for diseases where an acute inflammatory response is present. Examples are coronary disease, diabetes mellitus and cancer. The presence of the CRP protein in body fluids, especially in serum may also predict risk of future coronary complications in apparently healthy people. A new aptamer biosensor based on the electrochemical differential pulse voltammetry detection method was optimised. The detection was done in solution using screenprinted carbon electrodes and the properties of the electroactive enzymatic product of 1- naphytl phosphate with alkaline phosphatase. In this work the optimisation of the time of incubation and concentration of the alkaline phosphatase enzyme conjugated with streptavidin was performed in buffer medium and the optimised conditions tested in CRP-free human serum with a total dilution of 1:10. The C-reactive protein was captured from the media, using a sandwich immunoassay technique. The solid phase used for the realisation of the sandwich technique in solution was magnetic beads covered with streptavidin. The sandwich assay was performed with an RNA aptamer and a monoclonal antibody, both biotinylated. The optimised time of incubation was 10 minutes and the optimised concentration of the streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate 0.22U/ml. These conditions in buffer medium showed a detection limit of at least 0.1mg/l of CRP concentration with a mean of coefficient of variance equal to ±14.45%. For the same conditions in CRP-free human serum, the detection limit was at least 0.5mg/l of protein concentration and the coefficient of variance ±7.32%. The developed aptamer biosensor presented elevated accuracy, reproducibility, relative sensitivity due to some matrix effects and less consumed laboratory time when compared with traditional tests. For these reasons the new aptamer biosensor developed appears to be an excellent candidate to detect CRP in the diagnostic field

CASS•E: Cranfield astrobiological stratospheric sampling experiment

CASS•E is a life detectionexperimentthat aims to be capable of collecting microorganisms in Earth's Stratosphere. Theexperiment will be launched on astratosphericballoon in collaboration with Eurolaunch through the BEXUS (Balloon-borneExperimentsfor Universitv Students) program from Esrange Sweden in October 2010. It essentially consists of a pump which draws air from the Stratosphere through a collection filter mechanism. Due to the low number density of microbes in the Stratosphere compared to the known levels of contamination at ground level, theexperimentincorporated Planetary Protection and Contamination Control (PP&CC) protocols in its design and construction in order to confirm that any microbes detected are trulyStratosphericin origin. Space qualified cleaning and sterilisation techniques were employed throughout Assembly Integration and Testing (AIT) as well as biobarriers which were designed to open only in the stratosphere and so prevent recontamination of the instrument alter sterilisation. The material presented here covers the design and AIT of CASS•E. Copyright ©2010 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights res

Syncope due to ictal asystole : a challenging semiology

Copyright © 2020 John Libbey EurotextCardiac rhythm abnormalities are a possibly serious manifestation of epilepsy and seizures. We present a 36-year-old woman with episodes of altered mental status and loss of muscle tone for 20-30 seconds, preceded by déjà vu, bilateral tinnitus and generalized coldness.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio