Comorbidities in Chilean patients with psoriasis: a Global Healthcare Study on Psoriasis

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with several important medical comorbidities. There are scant data available on the comorbidities of patients with psoriasis in South America. Aim: To examine the comorbidity profile of adult patients with psoriasis in Chile and its association with severity of psoriasis. Methods: This was a multicentre, cross-sectional study involving 16 hospitals and clinics in Chile, which used a 48-item questionnaire to study clinician- and patient-reported outcomes and comorbidities. Inferential analyses were performed by psoriasis severity, using Fisher exact test, Student t-test and multivariable logistic regression. Results: In total, 598 adult patients with psoriasis were included (51.1% male; mean age 49.2 ± 15.1 years); 48.5% mild and 51.4% moderate to severe; Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 11.6 ± 11.5; body surface area 14.7 ± 18.2%. Plaque psoriasis was the most common phenotype (90.2%), followed by guttate (13.4%). Psoriatic arthritis occurred in 27.3% of patients. Comorbidities were reported in 60.2% of all patients with psoriasis. Frequent concomitant diseases were obesity (25.3%), hypertension (24.3%), Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (18.7%), dyslipidaemia (17.4%), metabolic syndrome (16.7%) and depression (14.4%). After adjustment, significant associations were found between moderate to severe psoriasis and obesity, T2DM and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) compared with mild psoriasis. Conclusions: We report a large study of comorbidities, including depression, dyslipidaemia, T2DM and NAFLD, in people with psoriasis in Chile. The prevalence of comorbidities with psoriasis in Chile appears similar to that found in Western countries, and emphasizes the importance of assessing patients with psoriasis for risk factors for and presence of, comorbid disease in a multidisciplinary setting

EDUCORE project: a clinical trial, randomised by clusters, to assess the effect of a visual learning method on blood pressure control in the primary healthcare setting

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High blood pressure (HBP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). European hypertension and cardiology societies as well as expert committees on CVD prevention recommend stratifying cardiovascular risk using the SCORE method, the modification of lifestyles to prevent CVD, and achieving good control over risk factors. The EDUCORE (Education and Coronary Risk Evaluation) project aims to determine whether the use of a cardiovascular risk visual learning method - the EDUCORE method - is more effective than normal clinical practice in improving the control of blood pressure within one year in patients with poorly controlled hypertension but no background of CVD;</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This work describes a protocol for a clinical trial, randomised by clusters and involving 22 primary healthcare clinics, to test the effectiveness of the EDUCORE method. The number of patients required was 736, all between 40 and 65 years of age (n = 368 in the EDUCORE and control groups), all of whom had been diagnosed with HBP at least one year ago, and all of whom had poorly controlled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic ≥ 90 mmHg). All personnel taking part were explained the trial and trained in its methodology. The EDUCORE method contemplates the visualisation of low risk SCORE scores using images embodying different stages of a high risk action, plus the receipt of a pamphlet explaining how to better maintain cardiac health. The main outcome variable was the control of blood pressure; secondary outcome variables included the SCORE score, therapeutic compliance, quality of life, and total cholesterol level. All outcome variables were measured at the beginning of the experimental period and again at 6 and 12 months. Information on sex, age, educational level, physical activity, body mass index, consumption of medications, change of treatment and blood analysis results was also recorded;</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The EDUCORE method could provide a simple, inexpensive means of improving blood pressure control, and perhaps other health problems, in the primary healthcare setting;</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01155973 [<url>http://ClinicalTrials.gov</url>].</p

A Combination of sbmA and tolC Mutations in Escherichia coli K-12 Tn10-Carrying Strains Results in Hypersusceptibility to Tetracycline▿

Previously, we demonstrated that Escherichia coli tolC mutations reduce the high-level resistance to tetracycline afforded by the transposon Tn10-encoded TetA pump from resistance at 200 μg/ml to resistance at 40 μg/ml. In this study, we found that the addition of an sbmA mutation to a tolC::Tn10 mutant exacerbates this phenotype: the double mutant did not form colonies, even in the presence of tetracycline at a concentration as low as 5 μg/ml. Inactivation of sbmA alone partially inhibited high-level tetracycline resistance, from resistance at 200 μg/ml to resistance at 120 μg/ml. There thus appears to be an additive effect of the mutations, resulting in almost complete suppression of the phenotypic expression of Tn10 tetracycline resistance

The alternative role of enterobactin as an oxidative stress protector allows Escherichia coli colony development.

Numerous bacteria have evolved different iron uptake systems with the ability to make use of their own and heterologous siderophores. However, there is growing evidence attributing alternative roles for siderophores that might explain the potential adaptive advantages of microorganisms having multiple siderophore systems. In this work, we show the requirement of the siderophore enterobactin for Escherichia coli colony development in minimal media. We observed that a strain impaired in enterobactin production (entE mutant) was unable to form colonies on M9 agar medium meanwhile its growth was normal on LB agar medium. Given that, neither iron nor citrate supplementation restored colony growth, the role of enterobactin as an iron uptake-facilitator would not explain its requirement for colony development. The absence of colony development was reverted either by addition of enterobactin, the reducing agent ascorbic acid or by incubating in anaerobic culture conditions with no additives. Then, we associated the enterobactin requirement for colony development with its ability to reduce oxidative stress, which we found to be higher in media where the colony development was impaired (M9) compared with media where the strain was able to form colonies (LB). Since oxyR and soxS mutants (two major stress response regulators) formed colonies in M9 agar medium, we hypothesize that enterobactin could be an important piece in the oxidative stress response repertoire, particularly required in the context of colony formation. In addition, we show that enterobactin has to be hydrolyzed after reaching the cell cytoplasm in order to enable colony development. By favoring iron release, hydrolysis of the enterobactin-iron complex, not only would assure covering iron needs, but would also provide the cell with a molecule with exposed hydroxyl groups (hydrolyzed enterobactin). This molecule would be able to scavenge radicals and therefore reduce oxidative stress

Microcin J25 Uptake: His(5) of the MccJ25 Lariat Ring Is Involved in Interaction with the Inner Membrane MccJ25 Transporter Protein SbmA

Escherichia coli microcin J25 (MccJ25) is a plasmid-encoded antibiotic peptide consisting of 21 l-amino acid residues (G(1)-G-A-G-H(5)-V-P-E-Y-F(10)-V-G-I-G-T(15)-P-I-S-F-Y(20)-G). E. coli RNA polymerase (RNAP) is the intracellular target of MccJ25. MccJ25 enters cells after binding to specific membrane transporters: FhuA in the outer membrane and SbmA in the inner membrane. Here, we studied MccJ25 mutants carrying a substitution of His(5) by Lys, Arg, or Ala. The inhibitory effects on cellular growth and in vitro RNAP activity were determined for each mutant microcin. The results show that all mutants inhibited RNAP in vitro. However, the mutants were defective in their ability to inhibit cellular growth. Experiments in which the FhuA protein was bypassed showed that substitutions of MccJ25 His(5) affected the SbmA-dependent transport. Our results thus suggest that MccJ25 His(5) located in the lariat ring is involved, directly or indirectly, in specific interaction with SbmA and is not required for MccJ25 inhibition of RNAP

Consumption of low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene materials by larvae of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae), impacts on their ontogeny

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), and expanded polystyrene (EXPS) are the most common plastics found in every home of the world, but only ~ 10% enter the recycling chains. Consequently, the study of plastic biodegradation by microorganisms and insects, such as the wax moths, has gained special interest. Galleria mellonella (L.) has been shown to consume single-layered polyethylene and polystyrene, though biological impacts of this consumption have been rarely reported. We evaluated the consumption of different plastics by G. mellonella larvae (L7, mean size: 25–30 mm) and its effect on larval duration, survival, and development. For this, we offered the larvae five diets: single-layered LDPE, EXPS, BOPP, triple-layered polyethylene (SB, for silo-bags), and a control with beeswax. We recorded the state and weight of the materials and the state of larvae until they reached the adult stage. Larvae consumed more PE (both LDPE and SB) and EXPS than BOPP; still, they were able to emerge as adults in all treatments. Larvae that consumed plastics turned into pupal stage faster than those that consumed beeswax, regardless of the type and amount of plastic consumed. This is the first report of wild G. mellonella larvae in Argentina consuming biaxially polypropylene and silo-bags.Fil: Ruiz Barrionuevo, Juliana María. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; ArgentinaFil: Martín, Eduardo. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Galindo Cardona, Alberto. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Malizia, Agustina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; ArgentinaFil: Chalup, Adriana Elizabeth. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Argentina. Fundación Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: de Cristóbal, Ricardo E.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Monmany, Ana Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentin

A) Type of growth of <i>E. coli fepD</i> and <i>fepG</i> mutants streaked in M9A and incubated overnight in aerobic conditions. B) Levels of reactive oxygen species in <i>E. coli</i> wild-type and <i>fepD</i>, <i>fepG, entS</i> and <i>entE</i> mutants grown in M9 medium. Quantitation of ROS levels was done using the DCFA-DA probe. Fluorescence intensities are relative to that of the control. Control: wt grown in M9 medium. Error bars = SD, n = 3.

<p>A) Type of growth of <i>E. coli fepD</i> and <i>fepG</i> mutants streaked in M9A and incubated overnight in aerobic conditions. B) Levels of reactive oxygen species in <i>E. coli</i> wild-type and <i>fepD</i>, <i>fepG, entS</i> and <i>entE</i> mutants grown in M9 medium. Quantitation of ROS levels was done using the DCFA-DA probe. Fluorescence intensities are relative to that of the control. Control: wt grown in M9 medium. Error bars = SD, n = 3.</p

Type of growth of <i>entE</i> mutant in solid medium.

<p>One hundred µL of serial dilutions (from 10⁻³ to 10⁻⁸) from a stationary phase culture were plated in the specified solid medium (M9 agar, M9A or LB agar, LBA) and incubated overnight. The type of growth was observed: L, lawn; C, colony, NG, no growth.</p><p>^a+ Fe, indicate medium supplementation with 100 µM FeCl_3.</p>b<p>+ ASC indicate medium supplementation with 1 mM ascorbic acid.</p>c<p>+CAS indicate medium supplementation with 1% casamino acid.</p

Growth of <i>E. coli</i> wild-type (wt) and <i>entE</i> strains in liquid and solid media.

<p>A) Liquid aerated minimal M9 medium cultures of wild-type strain (blue squares), <i>entE</i> strain (green circles) and <i>entE</i> strain in the same media but supplemented with 100 µM FeCl₃ (red triangles). Growth (OD₆₀₀) was determined at the indicated times. B) Lawn growth of wt and <i>entE E. coli</i> strains on M9A. A stationary phase culture of <i>entE E. coli</i> strain was serially diluted (10⁻¹ to 10⁻⁴) and an aliquot of these dilutions was applied on M9A or M9A supplemented with 100 µM FeCl₃. As control, the same dilutions of a wt strain overnight culture were applied on M9A medium. Lawn growth was compared at 8 hours of incubation. C) Colony growth of wt and <i>entE E. coli</i> on LBA. A stationary phase culture of <i>entE E. coli</i> strain was serially diluted and an aliquot of dilutions 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁸ were applied on LBA or LBA supplemented with 100 µM FeCl₃. As control, the same dilutions of an overnight culture of the wt strain were applied on LBA medium. After overnight incubation, colonies sizes were compared. D) Activity of the <i>rhyB</i> promoter estimated by β-galactosidase activity as an indirect measure of the intracellular iron content (The higher the promoter expression, the lower the iron content <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0084734#pone.0084734-Ma2" target="_blank">[48]</a>). Both wild-type strain and <i>entE</i> mutant respond to iron addition. The plasmid pALM23 carries the <i>ryhB- lacZ</i> fusion.</p