66 research outputs found

    Performance of a new microbial test for quinolone residues in muscle

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    Concerns regarding the presence of drug residues in foods include allergic reactions, toxicity, technological problems in fermented products and the development of antibiotic resistance in human pathogens. The analysis of antimicrobial residues in foods is generally carried out, in a first step, through microbiological screening tests. These tests commonly use Geobacillus stearothermophilus as target specie but show a low ability to detect quinolones. The goal of our study was to evaluate the performance of a new microbiological test (Equinox) for detection of quinolone residues in muscle. The kit contains an ampoule with a standardized number of freeze-dried Escherichia coli and must be diluted with a specific detection medium containing a redox indicator. Microbial growth will modify the redox potential of the medium being observed through a colour change (from blue to brown/orange). Equinox limits of detection for most of tested quinolones (enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, sarafloxacin, marbofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin and difloxacin) were below or around maximum residue limit (MRL) UE and CCβ values obtained corresponded with the determined sensitivities. In contrast, flumequine could not be detected at MRL UE levels. Moreover, Equinox displayed a low sensitivity to other antimicrobials. Sensitivity data obtained in vitro were consistent when testing incurred muscle samples. Matrix constituents, test batch and animal species did not affect the performance of the test. Equinox could be easily automated enabling a large numbers of simultaneous analysis, and a photometric reading can be applied for a precise interpretation. The results obtained in this study prove that Equinox is a useful tool when screening for quinolone residues or can be combinedwith othermethods for screening of unknown sample

    Impact of gilt immunocastration on weight losses and instrumental and chemical characteristics of Teruel dry-cured ham

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    A total of 32 fresh hams intended for the Spanish Protected Designation of Origin “Teruel ham” were used to evaluate the impact of gilt immunocastration (vs. entire gilts) on weight losses during the dry-curing process. After processing, 20 dry-cured hams (10 of each group) were chosen at random to assess instrumental and chemical characteristics. Hams from immunocastrated gilts tended (P = 0.057) to present lower weight losses, they were fattier (P 0.05). It can be concluded that, in general, immunocastration could be a good strategy in gilts to improve the quality of Teruel dry-cured ham.Jamón de TeruelPublishe

    Antibiotic properties of Satureja montana L. hydrolate in bacteria and fungus of clinical interest and its impact in non-target environmental microorganisms

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    The aim of this study was to analyse the microbicidal and microbiostatic activity of S. montana hydrolate L., the water-soluble fraction of the hydro-distillation process used to obtain the essential oil, on 14 Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and a fungus of clinical interest. To consider whether this hydrolate is a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional antibiotics, its effect on non-target microorganisms in the aquatic and terrestrial environment was analysed using natural soil and river microorganism communities, characterized through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results showed that S. montana hydrolate was especially effective (25% v/v concentration) against Pasteurella aerogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae and Acinetobacter baumannii (priority 1, WHO). It was also a microbicide for a further 7 bacterial strains and the fungus Candida albicans (50% v/v concentration). The river and soil communities exposed to the hydrolate showed a decrease in their growth, as well as a decrease in their ability to metabolize polymers and carbohydrates (soil microorganisms) and polymers, carboxylic and ketone acids (river microorganisms). Hydrolates could be an alternative to conventional antibiotics, but their impact on the environment must be taken into account.Publishe

    Statin use and the risk of colorectal cancer in a population-based electronic health records study

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    There is extensive debate regarding the protective effect of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) on colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to assess the association between CRC risk and exposure to statins using a large cohort with prescription data. We carried out a case-control study in Catalonia using the System for Development of Primary Care Research (SIDIAP) database that recorded patient diseases history and linked data on reimbursed medication. The study included 25 811 cases with an incident diagnosis of CRC between 2010 and 2015 and 129 117 frequency-matched controls. Subjects were classified as exposed to statins if they had ever been dispensed statins. Analysis considering mean daily defined dose, cumulative duration and type of statin were performed. Overall, 66 372 subjects (43%) were exposed to statins. There was no significant decrease of CRC risk associated to any statin exposure (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.95-1.01). Only in the stratified analysis by location a reduction of risk for rectal cancer was observed associated to statin exposure (OR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.81-0.92). This study does not support an overall protective effect of statins in CRC, but a protective association with rectal cancer merits further research

    Sedimentation and biomineralization processes in Las Eras Lake (Coca-Olmedo wetland)

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    La Laguna de Las Eras es uno de los pequeños y someros cuerpos de agua, que forman el humedal de la zona Coca-Olmedo (cuenca del Duero), caracterizado por su elevada alcalinidad, lo que constituye un rasgo singular dentro de Europa. La laguna presenta una salmuera de tipo Na-Mg-Cl- SO4 y su superficie está colonizada por tapices microbianos, donde se desarrollan estructuras sedimentarias inducidas por los microorganismos (MISS). Se reconocen diversos minerales autigénicos asociados a los tapices: thenardita, hidromagnesita, sulfatos y fosfatos magnésicos, azufre y halita. Junto a éstos destacan, por ser carbonatos atípicos en Europa, natrón y trona. El estudio petrográfico de los precipitados revela que éstos guardan una estrecha relación con las estructuras microbianas, sugiriendo cierta influencia de los microorganismos en la precipitación mineral. Los tapices microbianos de la laguna de Las Eras constituyen buenos análogos para comprender los procesos geobiológicos y ahondar en la reconstrucción paleoambiental de los lagos alcalinos que han existido desde el ArcaicoLas Eras Lake is one of the small and shallow bodies of water, which form the highly alkaline Coca-Olmedo wetland (Duero Basin), a unique feature within Europe. The lake brine is a Na-Mg-Cl-SO4 type. The lake hosts benthic microbial mats and its surface shows microbially influenced sedimentary structures (MISS). Associated with the microbial mats, several authigenic minerals are recognized such as thenardite, hydromagnesite, magnesium- bearing sulphate and phosphate, halite and sulphur.Among these we highlight the occurrence of natron and trona because the sodium-bearing carbonates are uncommon in the european region. The scanning electron microscopy study reveals that the minerals are closely related to microbial structures, suggesting some influence of microorganisms in the mineral precipitation. Recent microbial mats as those hosted in Las Eras Lake are good analogues for understanding geobiological processes. Knowledge of these processes provides a model for paleoenvironmental reconstruction of alkaline endorheic lakes that have existed since the Arc

    Effects of HCV Eradication on Bone mineral density in HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients

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    Little is known about the effects of eradication of HCV on bone mineral density (BMD) and biomarkers of bone remodeling in HIV/HCV coinfected patients. We prospectively assessed standardized BMD (sBMD) at the lumbar spine and femoral neck, World Health Organization (WHO) BMD categories at both sites, and plasma concentrations of soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaβ ligand (sRANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) at baseline (the date of initiation of anti-HCV therapy) and at 96 weeks. A total of 238 patients were included, median age 49.5 years, 76.5% males, 48.3% with cirrhosis, 98.3% on antiretroviral therapy, median CD4+ cell count 527 cells/mm 3, 86.6% with HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL. The prevalence of osteoporosis at baseline at the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) was 17.6% and 7.2%, respectively. Anti-HCV therapy comprised pegylated interferon and ribavirin (PegIFN-RBV) plus one direct-acting antiviral in 53.4%, PegIFN-RBV in 34.5%, and sofosbuvir/RBV in 12.2%. A total of 145 (60.9%) patients achieved sustained viral response (SVR). No significant effect of SVR was observed on sBMD for the interaction between time and SVR either in the LS (P=0.801) or the FN (P=0.911). Likewise, no significant effect of SVR was observed in plasma levels of sRANKL (P=0.205), OPG (P=0.249), and sRANKL/OPG ratio (P=0.123) for the interaction between time and SVR. No significant correlation was found between fibrosis by transient elastography, and LS and FN sBMD, at baseline, and week 96. SVR was not associated with significant changes in BMD nor biomarkers of bone remodeling in HIV/HCV-coinfected persons.This study was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCII), grant numbers PI11/01556, PI14/01094, PI14/01581, and PI14CIII/00011, and by Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad, grant number EC11-241. The study was also funded by the RD16/0025/0017, RD16/0025/0018 and RD16CIII/0002/0002 projects as part of the Plan Nacional R + D + I and cofunded by ISCIII-Subdirección General de Evaluación and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER).S
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