Phenotypic and genotypic study on antibiotic resistance and pathogenic factors of staphylococcus aureus isolates from small ruminant mastitis milk in south of italy (Sicily)

Staphyloccoccus aureus is the major cause of mastitis in small ruminants in the Mediterranean farms causing severe losses to dairy industry. Antibiotic treatment has been the most common approach to control these infections. Aim of this study was to investigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR), virulence factors and biofilm-related genes of 84 Sicilian strains of S. aureus isolated from sheep and goats milk during two different periods δT1 (2006-2009) and δT2 (2013-2015). Kirby Bauer method and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) were utilized to monitor AMR and related genes (mecA, tetK, tetM, ermA, ermC). Moreover, toxin genes (tsst-1, sea-see, seg-sej, and sep) and biofilm genes (bap, ica, sasC) were studied. Twenty-six isolates (30.9%) showed multidrug resistance. The two groups showed similar results with exception for higher values of resistance for tilmicosin and lower for sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin of the second group. MecA gene was detected in one isolate. Tetracycline resistance was higher than 20%, with an increase in δT2 group. Toxin genes were found in 5 isolates (5.9%), belonging of δT2 group, while 57 of isolates (67.8%) showed biofilm related genes. The high presence of multi-resistant isolates suggests the need of more responsible use of antibiotic therapy for the control of these infections

Eficacia de un programa para el tratamiento del sobrepeso y la obesidad no mórbida en atención primaria y su influencia en la modificación de estilos de vida

Introducción y Objetivos: la modificación de conductas no saludables es fundamental para tratar la obesidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los efectos de un programa basado en dieta, ejercicio y apoyo psicológico en la modificación conductual de pacientes con sobrepeso y obesidad tratados en Atención Primaria. Métodos: 60 pacientes con sobrepeso grado II y obesidad grado I-II fueron incluidos en este ensayo piloto. Edad entre 18-50 años. Los pacientes recibieron un programa que combinaba educación nutricional, actividad física y apoyo psicológico. Formato grupal, periodicidad quincenal. Los principales resultados medidos al inicio y 6 meses fueron parámetros antropométricos (índice de masa corporal, porcentaje de masa grasa, perímetro cintura) y de estilos de vida usando el Cuestionario para la valoración de hábitos de vida relacionados con el sobrepeso y la obesidad. Consta de 5 dimensiones: contenido calórico de la dieta (CC), alimentación saludable (AS), ejercicio físico (EF), comer por bienestar psicológico (BP) y consumo de alcohol (CA). La mayor puntuación indica mejores hábitos para CC, AS y EF y peores para BP y CA. Resultados: al final de la intervención mejoraron las escalas CC (2,60± 0,5 vs 3,49± 0,7, p<0,001), EF (2,19± 0,9 vs 3,17± 1,0, p<0,001) y AS (3,04± 0,4 vs 3,43± 0,4, p<0,05) del cuestionario; CA (3,98± 0,7 vs. 4,25± 0,7, p<0,05) y BP (2,82± 1,0 vs. 3,34± 0,7, p<0,001) empeoraron. Conclusión: el programa basado en moderada restricción de la dieta, aumento de actividad física y apoyo psicológico puede mejorar parámetros antropométricos y estilos de vida en pacientes obesos tratados en un centro de Atención PrimariaBackground: Lifestyle intervention is fundamental for obesity treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a program focused on diet, exercise and psychological support on Lifestyle Modification in overweight and obese patients treated in Primary Health Care setting. Methods: 60 patients with grade II overweight and non-morbid grade I-II obesity were included in this pilot clinical trial. Ages ranged from18 to 50 years. They were provided with a program combining nutritional education, physical activity and psychological support. Subjects attended group sessions every 2 weeks. The main outcome measures at baseline and 6 months were body composition parameters (BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference) and lifestyle intervention using the Questionnaire for the assessment of overweight and obesity related lifestyles at baseline and six months. This questionnaire yields an five dimensions: diet caloric intake (CC), healthy eating (AS), physical activity (EF), searching for psychological well-being eating (BP) and alcohol intake (CA). The higher score indicates better lifestyles for CC, AS, EF and worse for BP y CA. Results: At the end of the intervention the program achieved improvements in Questionnaire related lifestyles subscales: CC (2,60± 0,5 vs. 3,49± 0,7, p<0,001), EF (2,19± 0,9 vs. 3,17± 1,0, p<0,001) and AS (3,04± 0,4 vs. 3,43± 0,4, p<0,05); CA (3,98± 0,7 vs. 4,25± 0,7, p<0,05) and BP (2,82± 1,0 vs. 3,34± 0,7, p<0,001) has got worse. Conclusion: The Program focused on balanced and moderate energy-restricted diets, increased physical activity and psychological support may improve the anthropometric parameters and the Lifestyle intervention in obese patients treated in a primary healthcare center.Este proyecto ha sido becado por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, a través del Instituto de Salud Carlos III y la Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación, en el marco del «Subprograma de Proyectos de Investigación de Evaluación de Tecnologías Sanitarias e Investigación en servicios de salud». Convocatoria 2008 de ayudas de la Acción Estratégica en Salud, en el marco del Plan Nacional de I+D+I 2008-2011 (PI08/90357). Y por la Fundación MAPFRE, a través del programa de Ayudas a la Investigación (2009

Perception about the importance of feeding in a group of hematologic cancer patients

Introducción: Los pacientes oncohematológicos presentan habitualmente déficits nutricionales derivados de su enfermedad, sus tratamientos y efectos secundarios, etc. Sin embargo, apenas existen datos descriptivos del empleo de recomendaciones dietéticas, y de la auto-percepción del paciente de su utilidad en su enfermedad. Objetivos: Evaluar la percepción de la importancia de la alimentación en un grupo de pacientes con cáncer hematológico. Materiales y métodos: 111 pacientes oncohematológicos auto-registraron un cuestionario con preguntas sociosanitarias y de percepción personal de la importancia de la alimentación en su enfermedad. Resultados: La edad media fue 40,0 ± 12,8 años (64,86% mujeres). El diagnóstico y el tratamiento más frecuente fue linfoma (83,78%) y quimioterapia (92,80%). Un 75% consideró “muy importante” la relación entre enfermedad oncohematológica y estado nutricional. Sólo un 54,1% recibió consejo dietético. Y un 53,2% y 50,5% consideró que el consumo de suplementos nutricionales mejoraría su calidad de vida y/o enfermedad respectivamente. Conclusiones: Un porcentaje importante de pacientes presentaron estados avanzados de su enfermedad. Sin embargo, la mitad del colectivo no había recibido pautas dietéticas a pesar del elevado interés por recibir atención nutricional. Por tanto, la valoración nutricional del paciente oncohematológico así como la implementación de un soporte nutricional personalizado deberían formar parte de la práctica clínica habitualIntroduction: Oncohematologic patients usually present nutritional deficits associated with the disease, the treatments and side effects, etc. However, there are hardly any descriptive data about the dietary recommendations used and the patient’s self-perception of its usefulness in their disease. Aim: To assess the self-perception of the nutritional importance in a group of oncohematologic patients. Materials and methods: 111 oncohematologic patients self-reported a questionnaire containing items about socio-sanitary data and self-perception of the nutritional importance in their disease. Results: The mean age was 40.0 ± 12.8 years (64.86% women). The most frequent diagnosis and treatment was lymphoma (83.78%) and chemoteraphy (92.80%). 75% considered “very important” relationship between oncohematologic disease and nutritional status. Only 54.1% received dietary advice. And 53.2% and 50.5% considered that the use of nutritional supplements improve quality of life and/or disease respectively. Conclusions: A significant percentage of patients had advanced stages of their disease. However, half the group had not received dietary advice despite high interest in receiving nutritional care. Therefore, the nutritional assessment and the personalized nutritional support implementation of the patient should be included in routine clinical practic

Monitoring campaign over an edible dormouse population (Glis glis; rodentia: Gliridae) in Sicily: First report of mesocestodiasis

This study reports on the health status of the edible dormouse (Glis glis) living in Nebrodi Park (Sicily, Italy), responsible for nut crop damage in the area. In the frame of a monitoring campaign for potential zoonotic risk involving 30 dormice, rectal and conjunctival swabs and fur and nest content were collected for bacteriological and parasitological examinations, respectively. A large presence of fleas belonging to Monopsyllus sciurorum was found. Necropsy of a dead dormouse revealed an infection of Mesocestoides lineatus, whose cysts were found in the abdomen cavity and on the liver; this is the first report of this in this species. Further studies are necessary to identify their role in the environment, considering the limited knowledge of this species in Italy

Kinematical coincidence method in transfer reactions

A new method to extract high resolution angular distributions from kinematical coincidence measurements in binary reactions is presented. Kinematic is used to extract the center of mass angular distribution from the measured energy spectrum of light particles. Results obtained in the case of 10Be+p-->9Be+d reaction measured with the CHIMERA detector are shown. An angular resolution of few degrees in the center of mass is obtained.Comment: 6 Page 10 Figures submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods

Polymorphic appetite effects on waist circumference depend on rs3749474 CLOCK gene variant

Chronobiological aspects controlled by CLOCK genes may influence obesity incidence. Although there are studies that show an association between the expression of these genes and energy intake, waist circumference or abdominal obesity phenotypes, interactions with appetite have been insufficiently investigated in relation to chrononutrition. The objective was to identify interactions between CLOCK genetic variants involved in appetite status. A total of 442 subjects (329 women, 113 men; aged 18 to 65 years) were recruited. Anthropometric, dietary and lifestyle data were collected by trained nutritionists. Participants were classified according to their appetite feelings with a Likert scale. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine associations of the type genotype x appetite status on adiposity-related variables. p values were corrected by the Bonferroni method. A significant influence was found concerning the effects of appetite on waist circumference with respect to rs3749474 CLOCK polymorphism (p < 0.001). An additive model analysis (adjusted by age, gender, exercise and energy intake) showed that risk allele carriers, increased the waist circumference around 14 cm (β = 14.1, CI = 6.3–22.0) by each increment in the level of appetite. The effects of appetite on waist circumference may be partly modulated by the rs3749474 CLOCK polymorphism